Breton
.... Even if Brittany is placed second behind Ireland in Europe for its birth rate, it would still need 5,000 births per year to ensure the renewal of the population. 29,300 deaths and 34,300 births were recorded in 1999. Brittany has 1268 towns. Rennes has the biggest population. Blérunais in Ille-et-Vilaine is the least populated (60 inhabitants). The Breton population is mostly concentrated in the big towns on the coast. Half of the towns in Brittany have less than 1,000 inhabitants and one out of five has less than 500. Conversely, 8% of the towns have more than 5,000 inhabitants but their population reprensent half of the inhabitants of the region. Finaly, one inhabitant out of three lives in one of the 31 towns with more than 10,000 inhabitants. The average surface area of a town is 21 km2 and the mean density of the towns of Brittany is estimated at 107 inhabitants per km2. With 27,200 km2 (16,902 miles), Brittany reaches out into the Atlantic Ocean, like a peninsula, with the wind face on. It is surrounded by water on three sites. It is a maritime region par excellence (Armor). Its littoral is dotted with harbours and indented coastline from North to West, and slightly less so to the South. Inland, the countryside takes over. There are hamlets, fields and pastureland. They demonstrate the deeply rural nature of the region (Argoat). Since 1985, the Breton economy has started to come out of the recession, but still runs on two speeds The region of Haute Bretagne (Rennes, Vitré, Vannes, Nantes) is fairly prosperous whereas the "Basse Bretagne" region (Brest, Guinguamp, Carhaix) appears to be stagnating. It can be noted the Brittany is the leading agricultural region in France, the leader in the fishing industry, the top region for the levels of success rates in the baccalauréat, 2nd for the level of training and qualification for youths, and one of the major in France in the tourist industry, telecommunications, car industry and boat building industry, sectors. Breton people have kept their faith through their beliefs and traditions. Many of them inherited from the Celts despite attempts of the clergy to eradicate all references to paganism. Saints hold an important place in daily life. This is a remnant of the Celtic polytheism and can be seen in the huge number of holy well...