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Morbihan

Department of France


Department of France

FieldValue
nameMorbihan
native_namebr
native_name_langfr
typeDepartment
image_skylineVannes - préfecture (1).JPG
image_captionPrefecture building of the Morbihan department, in Vannes
image_flagBanniel_departamant_ar_Mor-Bihan_2022.svg
image_shieldBlason département fr Morbihan.svg
image_mapMorbihan-Position.svg
map_captionLocation of the Morbihan in France
image_map1Morbihan.png
map_caption1Map of the Morbihan
coordinates
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameFrance
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_name1Brittany
seat_typePrefecture
seatVannes
parts_typeSubprefectures
parts_stylepara
p1Lorient
Pontivy
leader_titlePresident of the Departmental Council
leader_nameDavid Lappartient
unit_prefMetric
area_footnotes
area_total_km26823
population_total
population_as_of
population_footnotes
population_rank31st
population_density_km2auto
blank_name_sec1Department number
blank_info_sec156
blank_name_sec2Arrondissements
blank_info_sec23
blank1_name_sec2Cantons
blank1_info_sec221
blank2_name_sec2Communes
blank2_info_sec2249
timezone1CET
utc_offset1+1
timezone1_DSTCEST
utc_offset1_DST+2
iso_codeFR-56
footnotesFrench Land Register data, which exclude estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km2

Pontivy The Morbihan ( ; ; ) is a department in the administrative region of Brittany, situated in the northwest of France. It is named after the Morbihan (small sea in Breton), the enclosed sea that is the principal feature of the coastline. It had a population of 759,684 in 2019. It is noted for its Carnac stones, which predate and are more extensive than the Stonehenge monument in Wiltshire, England.

Three major military educational facilities are located in Guer, including École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, the national military academy for officers.

History

The Morbihan is one of the original 83 departments created on 4 March 1790 during the French Revolution. It was created from a part of the Province of Brittany.

In 1945, cadets from École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, France's foremost military academy for officers, were relocated to Camp Coëtquidan (Camp de Coëtquidan) in Guer. This has been developed to include also the École militaire interarmes (inter-services military school), for non-commissioned officers; and École Militaire du Corps Technique et Administratif (military school of the technical and administrative corps).

Geography

The Morbihan, part of the region of Brittany, is surrounded by the departments of Finistère, Côtes-d'Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine, and Loire-Atlantique, and the Atlantic Ocean on the southwest.

The Gulf of Morbihan has many islands: 365 according to legend. There are actually between 30 and 40, depending on how they are counted. There are also many islets that are too small for any development. Of these islands, all but two are privately owned: l'Île-aux-Moines and l'Île-d'Arz. Owners of the others include movie stars, fashion designers, and other wealthy "glitterati".

In the department of the Morbihan, but outside the Gulf, there are four inhabited islands:

  • Belle Île
  • Groix
  • Houat
  • Hoëdic

Meaban, an island just outside the Port du Crouesty, is an ornithological reserve. Visitors are forbidden there.

Principal towns

The most populous commune is Lorient; the prefecture Vannes is the second-most populous. As of 2019, there are 6 communes with more than 15,000 inhabitants:

CommunePopulation (2019)
Lorient57,246
Vannes53,719
Lanester23,124
Ploemeur17,778
Hennebont16,062
Pontivy15,064

Demographics

Art and culture

Many residents support maintenance and use of the Breton language, and there are numerous advocates of bilingual education.

The painter Raymond Wintz (1884–1956) depicted locations around the Gulf of Morbihan.

Politics

As of 2014, the préfet of the Morbihan is Jean-François Savy, previously head of the Prefectures of Ardennes and of Hautes-Alpes. The president of the Departmental Council is David Lappartient, elected in July 2021.

Current National Assembly Representatives

ConstituencyMemberParty
En Marche!}}"Morbihan's 1st constituencyHervé Pellois
Democratic Movement (France)}}"Morbihan's 2nd constituencyJimmy Pahun
En Marche!}}"Morbihan's 3rd constituencyNicole Le Peih
En Marche!}}"Morbihan's 4th constituencyPaul Molac
En Marche!}}"Morbihan's 5th constituencyGwendal Rouillard
En Marche!}}"Morbihan's 6th constituencyJean-Michel Jacques

Tourism

  • The Carnac stones, megalithic alignments of Carnac, are situated in the Morbihan.

File:Vieux-quartier-port-vannes.jpg|Vannes File:Entre Golfe Morbihan.JPG|The Gulf of Morbihan is a popular sailing destination. File:Château de Rochefort-en-Terre (cour 1).jpg|Rochefort-en-Terre File:Bagad.JPG|The bagad of Lann-Bihoué File:Kerlescan.JPG|Carnac stones

References

References

  1. (4 May 2022). "Répertoire national des élus: les conseillers départementaux".
  2. {{Cite Dictionary.com. Morbihan
  3. [https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/6011060/dep56.pdf Populations légales 2019: 56 Morbihan], INSEE
  4. "Historique du Morbihan".
  5. "Évolution et structure de la population en 2016". INSEE.
  6. "Le préfet du Morbihan". Morbihan Prefecture website.
  7. Assemblée Nationale. "Assemblée nationale ~ Les députés, le vote de la loi, le Parlement français". Assemblee-nationale.fr.
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