Morbihan

Morbihan (/ˈmɔːrbiən/ MOR-bee-ən, French: [mɔʁbi(j)ɑ̃]; Breton: Mor-Bihan [moːrˈbiː(h)ãn]) 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.[3] It is noted for its Carnac stones, which predate and are more extensive than the Stonehenge monument in Wiltshire, England.

Morbihan
Mor-Bihan (Breton)
Department
Prefecture building of the Morbihan department, in Vannes
Prefecture building of the Morbihan department, in Vannes
Flag of Morbihan
Flag
Coat of arms of Morbihan
Coat of arms
Location of Morbihan in France
Location of Morbihan in France
Map of Morbihan
Map of Morbihan
Coordinates: 47°50′N 02°50′W
CountryFrance
RegionBrittany
PrefectureVannes
SubprefecturesLorient
Pontivy
Government
 • President of the Departmental CouncilDavid Lappartient[1]
Area
1
 • Total6,823 km2 (2,634 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2020)[2]
 • Total764,161
 • Rank31st
 • Density110/km2 (290/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeFR-56
Department number56
Arrondissements3
Cantons21
Communes249
^1 French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km2

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

History

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 Duchy 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

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

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:[3]

Commune Population (2019)
Lorient 57,246
Vannes 53,719
Lanester 23,124
Ploemeur 17,778
Hennebont 16,062
Pontivy 15,064

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1801401,215—    
1821416,224+0.18%
1831433,522+0.41%
1841447,898+0.33%
1851478,172+0.66%
1861486,504+0.17%
1876506,573+0.27%
1881521,614+0.59%
1891544,470+0.43%
1901564,000+0.35%
1921556,047−0.07%
1936542,000−0.17%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1946506,884−0.67%
1954520,966+0.34%
1962530,833+0.23%
1968541,000+0.32%
1975563,588+0.59%
1982590,889+0.68%
1990619,723+0.60%
1999643,293+0.42%
2006693,498+1.08%
2011727,083+0.95%
2016747,548+0.56%
Sources:[4][5]

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 Morbihan is Jean-François Savy, previously head of the Prefectures of Ardennes and of Hautes-Alpes.[6] The president of the Departmental Council is David Lappartient, elected in July 2021.

Current National Assembly Representatives
ConstituencyMember[7]Party
Morbihan's 1st constituency Hervé Pellois La République En Marche!
Morbihan's 2nd constituency Jimmy Pahun MoDem
Morbihan's 3rd constituency Nicole Le Peih La République En Marche!
Morbihan's 4th constituency Paul Molac La République En Marche!
Morbihan's 5th constituency Gwendal Rouillard La République En Marche!
Morbihan's 6th constituency Jean-Michel Jacques La République En Marche!

Tourism

See also

References
  1. "Répertoire national des élus: les conseillers départementaux". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 4 May 2022.
  2. "Téléchargement du fichier d'ensemble des populations légales en 2020". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 29 December 2022.
  3. Populations légales 2019: 56 Morbihan, INSEE
  4. "Historique du Morbihan". Le SPLAF.
  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. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
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