MORBIHAN INFORMATION
MORBIHAN Geography
Morbihan is part of the current region of Bretagne (Brittany) and is surrounded by the departments of Finistère, Côte-d'Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine, and in the Pays de la Loire by the department of Loire-Atlantique, and the Atlantic Ocean on the southwest.
Morbihan (Breton: Mor-Bihan) is a department in the northwest of France named after the Morbihan (small sea in Breton), the enclosed sea that is the principal feature of the coastline.
The Gulf of Morbihan has many islands: 365 according to legend, but, in reality, between 30 and 40, according to how they are counted. There are also many islets which are too small to be built on. Of these islands, all but two are private: l'Île aux Moines and l'Île D'Arz. The others are privately owned, some by movie stars or fashion designers.
In the department of Morbihan, but outside the Gulf, there are four inhabited islands:
- Belle Île: The island measures 17 km by 9 km and has an average altitude of 40 m. The area is about 84 km2. The coasts are a mixture between dangerously sharp cliff edges on the southwest side, the Côte Sauvage (Wild coast), and placid beaches, the largest being les Grands Sables (The great sands) and navigable harbours on the northeast side. The island's climate is oceanic, having less rain and milder winters than on the mainland.
The two main ports are Le Palais (accessible by ferry from Quiberon) and Sauzon (accessible by ferry from Quiberon and Lorient).
There used to be forests on the island, but these have long disappeared due to increasing agricultural use of the land.
- Groix
- Houat
- Hoëdic
Meaban, just outside the Port du Crouesty is an ornithological reserve and it is forbidden to alight there.
MORBIHAN Culture
The Breton language is an important issue, with many advocating bilingual education.
MORBIHAN Tourism
The megalithic alignments of Carnac are situated in Morbihan.
Carnac: Carnac (Breton: Karnag) is a commune beside the Gulf of Morbihan on the south coast of Brittany in the Morbihan department in north-western France.
Its inhabitants are called Carnacois. Carnac is renowned for the Carnac stones – one of the most extensive Neolithic menhir collections in the world – as well as its beaches, which are popular with tourists.
Carnac, found on a narrow peninsula halfway between the medieval town Vannes and the seaside resort Quiberon, is split into two centres - Carnac-Ville and Carnac-Plage (the beachfront). In total there are five beaches, including la Grande Plage, and further to the east, Plage Men Dû and Beaumer.
MORBIHAN History
Morbihan is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the Duchy of Brittany. This is the only French department which has no French name; Morbihan is in Breton. It is also the only department in France which kept its original name.
MORBIHAN Administration
Department number : 56
Region : Bretagne
Prefecture : Vannes
Subprefectures : Lorient, Pontivy
Arrondissements : 3
Cantons : 42
Communes: 261
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