Morlaix
| Morlaix Montroulez | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Morlaix with its viaduct in the background | ||
| ||
  Morlaix | ||
|
Location within Brittany region  Morlaix | ||
| Coordinates: 48°34′42″N 3°49′36″W / 48.5783°N 3.8267°WCoordinates: 48°34′42″N 3°49′36″W / 48.5783°N 3.8267°W | ||
| Country | France | |
| Region | Brittany | |
| Department | Finistère | |
| Arrondissement | Morlaix | |
| Canton | Morlaix | |
| Intercommunality | Morlaix | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor (2014–2020) | Agnès Le Brun | |
| Area1 | 24.82 km2 (9.58 sq mi) | |
| Population (2008)2 | 15,574 | |
| • Density | 630/km2 (1,600/sq mi) | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 29151 / 29600 | |
| Elevation | 0–104 m (0–341 ft) | |
|
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | ||
.svg.png)
Morlaix (French pronunciation: [mɔʁlɛ]; Breton: Montroulez) is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.
Leisure and tourism
The old quarter of the town has winding streets of cobbled stones and overhanging houses constructed of stone and timber. Many have religious and secular sculptures on their façades.
One of these houses is "la Maison dite de la duchesse Anne", or the "so-called Duchess Anne’s house", which is now a museum, open to the public. This sixteenth-century house is said to be one of the oldest in the town. The Museum of the Jacobins in Morlaix, housed in a former convent, traces the history of Finistère. The town also contains the Parc botanique de Suscinio.
Morlaix is a popular location for sea sports enthusiasts with a diverse array of activities on offer including surfing, sand buggying and kite flying. Visitors can also find beautiful coastal paths for walks. Morlaix is home to France’s tallest lighthouse, "Phare de L’île Vierge". Inland activities include bowling, golf, horse-riding and many more. There are also a cinema and a swimming pool.[1]
Marina
A tidal river that almost completely dries out at low tide reaches the town of Morlaix where there is a lock into a marina.[2]
Transport
- Morlaix Railway Station is served by TGV on the Paris–Brest railway. Immediately adjacent to the station is the Viaduc de Morlaix, a feat of railway engineering built in 1861-3,[3] and now national historic monument.
- Morlaix airport is Morlaix Ploujean Airport.
Breton language
The municipality launched a linguistic plan through Ya d'ar brezhoneg on June 27, 2008.
In 2008, 6.45% of primary-school children attended bilingual schools.[4]
The Diwan school in Morlaix, founded around 1988, was originally located in very old apartments. In January 2008 the mayor offered the Diwan school to move to a more suited location, an empty school. In June 2008 the new mayor decided that the Diwan school should move location once again. The town council wanted to use their building to open a new public school. However the replacement building chosen for the Diwan school was in a very bad shape.[5]
Population
Inhabitants of Morlaix are called in French Morlaisiens.
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1793 | 10,393 | — |
| 1800 | 9,351 | −10.0% |
| 1806 | 9,937 | +6.3% |
| 1821 | 9,781 | −1.6% |
| 1831 | 9,596 | −1.9% |
| 1836 | 9,740 | +1.5% |
| 1841 | 10,539 | +8.2% |
| 1846 | 11,529 | +9.4% |
| 1851 | 12,393 | +7.5% |
| 1856 | 12,904 | +4.1% |
| 1861 | 14,008 | +8.6% |
| 1866 | 14,046 | +0.3% |
| 1872 | 14,389 | +2.4% |
| 1876 | 15,183 | +5.5% |
| 1881 | 15,346 | +1.1% |
| 1886 | 16,013 | +4.3% |
| 1891 | 16,300 | +1.8% |
| 1896 | 16,027 | −1.7% |
| 1901 | 16,086 | +0.4% |
| 1906 | 15,984 | −0.6% |
| 1911 | 15,262 | −4.5% |
| 1921 | 13,931 | −8.7% |
| 1926 | 13,959 | +0.2% |
| 1931 | 14,073 | +0.8% |
| 1936 | 13,944 | −0.9% |
| 1946 | 15,121 | +8.4% |
| 1954 | 15,037 | −0.6% |
| 1962 | 18,866 | +25.5% |
| 1968 | 19,919 | +5.6% |
| 1975 | 19,237 | −3.4% |
| 1982 | 18,348 | −4.6% |
| 1990 | 16,701 | −9.0% |
| 1999 | 16,004 | −4.2% |
| 2008 | 15,574 | −2.7% |
-
Morlaix viaduct
-
House known as ‘Duchess Anne’s House’
-
Pondalez house museum
-
Hillside view of the viaduct
-
Bay of Morlaix with the Château du Taureau
Economy
Brit Air, a regional airline and Air France subsidiary, is at Morlaix Airport in Morlaix.[6] In 2013 the airline merged with HOP![7]
International relations
Morlaix is twinned with:
Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom; The Truro Morlaix Twinning Association was created in 1979.
Chełm, Poland
Würselen, Germany
See also
- Communes of the Finistère department
- Yann Larhantec Sculptor of Calvaries who lived in Morlaix
- List of the works of the Maître de Plougastel
References
- ↑ Touristic information at Frenchproperty.com
- ↑ "Introduction to the Port of Morlaix - Plaisance Baie de Morlai", Retrieved on 20 May 2013.
- ↑ 12 - Article paru dans Morlaix Magazine de Mars 2007; Accessed 22 August 2013
- ↑ (French) Ofis ar Brezhoneg: Enseignement bilingue
- ↑ 50 Breton schoolchildren call for support, Eurolang
- ↑ "Présentation." Brit Air. Retrieved on 21 May 2009.
- ↑ "Air France Launches New Low-Cost Airline 'Hop!'." Reuters. 26 March 2013. Retrieved on 26 April 2013.
- Mayors of Finistère Association (French)
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morlaix. |
- Official website (French)
- Morlaix Museum website (French)
- House known as ‘Duchess Anne’s House’ website (French)
- French Ministry of Culture list for Morlaix (French)
- Cultural heritage (French)
- Truro-Morlaix Twinning Association
- 360 degree photograph of Morlaix Port
|