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LANNION, a town of north-western France, capital of an arrondissement in the department of Cotes-du-Nord, on the right bank of the Leguer, 45 M. W.N.W. of St Brieuc by rail. Pop. (1go6) J336. Lannion is 5 M. in direct line from the mouth of the Leguer; its port does a small trade (exports of agricultural produce, imports of wine, salt, timber, &c.), and there is an-LA NOUE	183

active fishing industry. The town contains many houses of the 15th and 16th centuries and other old buildings, the chief of which is the church of St Jean-du-Baly (16th and 17th centuries). On an eminence close to Lannion is the church of Brelevenez of the 12th century, restored in the 15th or 16th century; it has an interesting 16th-century Holy Sepulchre.
Some 6 in. S.E. of the town are the imposing ruins of the chateau of Tonquedec (c. 1400) styled the " Pierrefonds of Brittany," and there are other buildings of antiquarian interest in the vicinity. The coast north of Lannion at Tregastel and Ploumanac presents curious rock formations.
Lannion is ;he seat of a subprefect and has a tribunal of first instance and a communal college. Its industries include saw-milling, tanning and the manufacture of farm implements. The town was taken in 1346 by the English; it was defended against them by Geoffroy de Pontblanc whose valour is commemorated by a cross close to the spot where he was slain.