Morlaix

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Morlaix
Montroulez
Morlaix coat of arms
Morlaix (France)
Morlaix
region Brittany
Department Finistère
Arrondissement Morlaix ( sub-prefecture )
Canton Morlaix ( chief lieu )
Community association Morlaix Community
Coordinates 48 ° 35 ′  N , 3 ° 50 ′  W Coordinates: 48 ° 35 ′  N , 3 ° 50 ′  W
height 0-104 m
surface 24.82 km 2
Residents 14,559 (January 1, 2017)
Population density 587 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code 29600
INSEE code 29151
Website http://www.ville.morlaix.fr

Viaduct, Place des Otages

Morlaix ( Montroulez in Breton ) is a French commune with 14,559 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) in the Finistère department in the Brittany region . Morlaix is ​​the main town ( chef-lieu ) of the canton of the same name and sub-prefecture of the arrondissement of the same name .

geography

The municipality of Morlaix is ​​located between sea level and 104 meters at an average of 61 meters above sea level in the north of the Finistère department . The city is crossed by the Morlaix river of the same name , which forms a narrow funnel mouth from here and flows into the English Channel about six kilometers further north in the Rade de Morlaix bay .

Neighboring communities

Going clockwise, starting from the north: Plouezoc'h , Garlan , Plouigneau , Plougonven , Plourin-lès-Morlaix , Saint-Martin-des-Champs , Taulé and Locquénolé .

traffic

The TGV high-speed train passes through Morlaix on its way from Paris to Brest . The Morlaix-Ploujean Airport is located in the district of the city of Morlaix.

history

Both the Breton and the French name of the city refer to the Latin name of the place Mons Relaxus . Morlaix's modern significance is based primarily on its seaport, which was an important port of call for the French West India Company , among others . The tobacco factory, called "Ferme", built in the 18th century, with its trade monopoly was another important component of the city's economic boom, but it also allowed tobacco smuggling from England to flourish.

Population development

year 1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2006 2017
Residents 10,866 19,919 19,237 18,348 16,701 15990 15,095 14,559
Sources: Cassini and INSEE

Culture and sights

Buildings

Maison dite de la duchesse Anne
Château du Taureau

See also: List of Monuments historiques in Morlaix

  • The cityscape is dominated by a 58 m high and 285 m long railway viaduct , which can be seen from afar, which was built in 1861 to complete the Paris – Brest railway line.
  • The old town with numerous houses decorated with bay windows reflects the wealth of the city. The construction of the lantern houses , buildings that were built around an inner courtyard with glass above, is remarkable . One of the lantern houses is the Maison dite de la duchesse Anne , a three-story house that is said to have served as Anne de Bretagne's residence at the beginning of the 16th century . The facade is richly decorated with ornaments and statues of saints. The upper floors, which protrude from the lower ones, can be reached via a spiral staircase in the inner courtyard, which rises in the Renaissance style around a richly decorated central piece carved from one piece.
  • The Grand'Rue , now a pedestrian zone, was the main street of the old trading center. Today old houses and modern shops mix. Continuing towards the viaduct you reach the Place des Otages , which commemorates the Bretons killed by German soldiers in the war.
  • The Saint-Melaine church (15th century) was built in the Flamboyant style. The church suffered severe damage in the Allied bombings in World War II, but was rebuilt. The organ case, which dates back to the 17th century, is remarkable.
  • The parish church of Saint-Mathieu was built in the 16th century. However, only the tower remains from this period. After a long period of decline, the church was completely restored at the beginning of the 19th century. Worth seeing is a hinged statue of the Virgin Mary, the interior of which represents the Trinity .
  • The former tobacco factory "Ferme" was founded in the 19th century.
  • The Fort Taureau from the 16th century in the Bay of Morlaix was reopened for visitors to fundamental restoration of 2006.

Museums

  • The city museum Musée des Jacobins not only shows thematically changing exhibitions, but also exhibits on the history of the city, landscape and culture.

Twin cities

Personalities

literature

  • Le Patrimoine des Communes du Finistère. Flohic Editions, Volume 2, Paris 1998, ISBN 2-84234-039-6 , pp. 809-830.
  • Brittany. Rennes, Saint-Malo, Saint-Brieuc, Morlaix, Brest, Quimper, Lorient, Vannes, Nantes. 2nd edition, Dumont, Cologne 1998, ISBN 3-7701-3275-0 .

Web links

Commons : Morlaix  - collection of images, videos and audio files