Le Faouët, Morbihan
Le Faouët
Ar Faoued | |
---|---|
![]() Covered market | |
Coordinates: 48°02′02″N 3°29′25″W / 48.0339°N 3.4903°W | |
Country | France |
Region | Brittany |
Department | Morbihan |
Arrondissement | Pontivy |
Canton | Gourin |
Intercommunality | Pays du Roi Morvan |
Government | |
• Mayor (2008—2014) | André Le Corre |
Area 1 | 34.03 km2 (13.14 sq mi) |
Population (2021)[1] | 2,808 |
• Density | 83/km2 (210/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
INSEE/Postal code | 56057 /56320 |
Elevation | 53–202 m (174–663 ft) (avg. 152 m or 499 ft) |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
Le Faouët ([lə fawɛt]; Breton: Ar Faoued) is a commune in the Morbihan department of the region of Brittany in north-western France.
The Breton language name of the commune means Beech forest. The sixteenth century timber market halls are a noted feature of the town and two medieval chapels lies within the boundaries of the commune.
Geography
Le Faouët/Ar Faoued lies in the historical region of Cornouaille. Traditionally a Breton-speaking area, the French language became commonly used from the 1950s. The town lies in the valley of the river Ellé.
History
An infamous historical resident of Le Faouët is Marion du Faouët, the head of an eighteenth-century group of bandits who became a local bogeyman after her death.
Administration
Le Faouët/Ar Faoued is the seat of the Canton du Faouët. The other communes making up the canton are Berné, Guiscriff, Lanvénégen, Meslan, and Priziac.
Demographics
The population at recent censuses was:
- 1962: 3,039
- 1968: 3,048
- 1975: 3,149
- 1982: 3,177
- 1990: 2,869
- 1999: 2,806
Inhabitants of Le Faouët are called Faouëtais.
Breton language
In 2008, 14,24% of the children attended the bilingual schools in primary education.[2]
Tourist attractions
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Chapelle-Sainte-Barbe.jpg/200px-Chapelle-Sainte-Barbe.jpg)
The sixteenth century halles, or covered market, remain in use and are a rare surviving example of a large timber structure from the period.
The chapel of Saint Barbara is sited on a hilltop overlooking the Ellé. The fifteenth century chapel of Saint Fiacre was recently restored. The polychrome timber interior was highly regarded, and earned its creator, Olivier Le Loergan, a title of nobility. The stained glass is also noteworthy. Parts of the interior have suffered considerable damage from insects.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Chapelle_Sainte_Barbe_Le_Fou%C3%ABt_%2856%29.jpg/220px-Chapelle_Sainte_Barbe_Le_Fou%C3%ABt_%2856%29.jpg)
See also
- Communes of the Morbihan department
- List of the works of the Maître de Lanrivain
- Henri Alphonse Barnoin
References
- ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
- ^ (in French) Ofis ar Brezhoneg: Enseignement bilingue
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Le Faouët at the IGN[permanent dead link]
- Le Faouët at the INSEE
- French Ministry of Culture list for Le Faouët (in French)