BREST, a strongly fortified city, in the department of Finistere, France, and one of the chief naval stations of the empire, is situated in lat. 48° 24' n., and long. 4° 29' w., on the n. side of the bay or road of 13rest, which forms one of the finest harbors in the world. The only entrance to the bay is by a narrow channel called Le Goulet, which is scarcely a mile wide, and is strongly defended by batteries; the difficulty and danger of access to hostile ships being increased by certain rocks in the center of the channel. A new floating dock, quays, and pier were completed in 1876, at a cost of 22,500,000 francs. The small river Penfel flows through the town, which is, on the whole, irregularly built on an uneven site, and has steep, narrow, dark, and very dirty streets. In some parts communication between the lower and upper parts of the town can be effected only by stairs. The new quarter, the parade, and the quays, are more cleanly. B. has extensive ship-building yards, rope-walks, store-houses, etc.; its industry, indeed,
is confined entirely to the equipment of the navy in its various branches. It has tele graphic communication with America by a submarine cable. The Bagnes (q.v.) or hulks no longer exists, the prisoners having been removed to the penal colony of Cayenne. Pop. '76, exclusive of garrison, 66,828. B. is a very ancient place, but it was not of much importance until the 17th century, Its splendid position made it an object of contention to French, English, and Spaniards. In 1631, Cardinal Richelieu resolved to make it a naval station, and commenced the fortifications, which were completed by Vauban, but have since been greatly extended. In 1694, the English under lord Berkeley were repulsed here with great loss. In 1794, the French fleet, under admiral Villaret-Joyeuse, was defeated off B. by the English fleet under admiral Howe.