LOCAL CELEBRITIES

Did you know the stethoscope was invented by a local medic?

Or that a Douarnenez man invented tinned foods?

The Douarnenez area is lucky enough to have brought many famous scientists, historians and writers into the world, while its natural beauty has inspired many artists and continues to attract modern-day celebrities.

Our famous local names include: 

• Jean-Marie LE BRIS (1817 - 1872) one of the forerunners of aviation and the first man to become airborne on a craft that he made himself.

• The renowned Doctor LAENNEC, famous for his medical work and for inventing the stethoscope. He died in Ploaré in 1820.

• Nicolas APPERT who discovered the principles of preserving food using tins.

• Georges PERROS, poet.

Douarnenez was discovered by painters and writers in the mid 1800s

Among the writers... HEREDIA set up home in one of the houses that dominates the Port-Rhu.

SULLY-PRUDHOMME, MAUPASSANT, MALLARME, Max JACOB and RICHEPIN were equally seduced by the charms of our part of the world.

The painters that came Douarnenez include: Emmanuel LANSYER, VLAMINK, DERAIN, FOUJITA, Jim SEVELLEC, Lucien SIMON, Mathurin MEHEUT, Désiré LUCAS, Christopher WOOD and Yves TANGUY

And among engravers and other artists Théodore VALERIO, ULAMN and Henri CHEFFER

For further information about local celebrities and heroes (in French).