Plogoff

Plogoff is a commune located in the Finistère department of Brittany, France, known primarily for the widespread and ultimately successful popular resistance to the construction of a nuclear power plant during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The "Affaire Plogoff" (Plogoff Affair) saw the local population, led by farmers, fishermen, and other residents, fiercely oppose the French government's plan to build a nuclear plant on the Pointe du Raz, a historically and geographically significant location. This opposition manifested in large-scale demonstrations, civil disobedience, and clashes with law enforcement. The events gained national and international attention, highlighting the conflict between state power and local autonomy, as well as concerns about nuclear energy and its environmental impact.

The planned power plant was eventually abandoned in 1981, following the election of François Mitterrand as President of France. The decision was seen as a significant victory for the anti-nuclear movement and a demonstration of the power of grassroots activism. Plogoff has since become a symbol of resistance and a case study in environmental activism and community mobilization. The events in Plogoff have been documented in numerous films, books, and academic studies. The commune itself continues to be a popular tourist destination, known for its dramatic coastline and strong cultural identity.