Morlaix
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Morlaix |
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| Morlaix with its viaduct in the background | |
 Morlaix
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Location within Brittany region
Morlaix
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| Administration | |
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| Country | France |
| Region | Brittany |
| Department | Finistère |
| Arrondissement | Morlaix |
| Canton | Morlaix |
| Intercommunality | Morlaix |
| Mayor | Agnès Le Brun (2008–2014) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 0–104 m (0–341 ft) |
| Land area1 | 24.82 km2 (9.58 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 15,574 (2008) |
| - Density | 627 /km2 (1,620 /sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 29151/ 29600 |
| 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. | |
Coordinates: 48°34′42″N 3°49′36″W / 48.5783°N 3.8267°W
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.
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[edit] 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 well placed for those who enjoy sea sports such as surfing, sand buggying, kite flying etc. There are coastal paths for walks. Morlaix has France’s tallest lighthouse, the Phare de L’île Vierge. Inland activities include bowling, golf, horse-riding and many others. There is also a cinema and a swimming pool.[1]
[edit] Transport
- Morlaix Railway Station is served by TGV on the Paris–Brest railway.
- Morlaix airport is Morlaix Ploujean Airport.
[edit] 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.[2]
The Diwan school in Morlaix, started around 1988, was located in some very old flats. In January 2008 the mayor offered them an empty school. In June 2008 the new mayor decided the Diwan school must move to a building in a very bad state, because the town council wants to reuse the building for public school.[3]
[edit] Population
Inhabitants of Morlaix are called in French Morlaisiens.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
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Morlaix viaduct
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House known as ‘Duchess Anne’s House’
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Pondalez house museum
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Hillside view of the viaduct
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Bay of Morlaix with the Château du Taureau
[edit] Economy
Brit Air, a regional airline and Air France subsidiary, is headquartered by the airport in Morlaix.[4]
[edit] International relations
Morlaix is twinned with:
Truro, England; The Truro Morlaix Twinning Association was created in 1979.
Chełm, Poland
Würselen, Germany
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Touristic information at Frenchproperty.com
- ^ (French) Ofis ar Brezhoneg: Enseignement bilingue
- ^ 50 Breton schoolchildren call for support, Eurolang
- ^ "Présentation." Brit Air. Retrieved on 21 May 2009.
- Mayors of Finistère Association (French)
[edit] External links
- 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
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