Morbihan or Mor-Biahan as it is called in Breton is a French department of Brittany in northwest France. Its name comes from Morbihan that is a small sea in Breton.
Town property guides
Geography
Morbihan is part of the current region of Bretagne. The departments in the neighborhood are Finistere, Cotes-d’Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine, and Loire-Atlantique, and the Atlantic Ocean on the southwest.
The area of the department is 2738 sqm and the population is 573,152.
On the Gulf of Morbihan there are many islands. The legend says they are 365 but actually they are between 30 and 40 depending on the way they are counted. There are also many islets that are quite small to be built. Two of the islands are private l’Île aux Moines and l’Île D’Arz. The others are privately owned some by movie stars or fashion designers.
There are a lot of menhirs and dolmen in this area and this makes it as one of the most impressive megalithic sites in the world.
The south part of Brittany is a long coastline. There are also a lot of beautiful marine landscapes that attract a lot of sea creatures and birds. The Golfe du Morbihan is a large inland sea with a lot of islands.
Towns
Morbihan is popular among travelers because of its diversity. There are a lot of prehistoric megaliths, huge stones erected in various forms dating 5000 years BC. From more recent times come the medieval towns, fishing villages, and many beach resorts.
South of Pontivy is positioned L’Orient that is an important naval and submarine base. It also takes care for the large commercial fishing fleet that is interesting when they return to harbour to land and auction their catches.
Auray is another town that is close to the coast. It is named as a town of special artistic and historical interest. It is positioned on the bank of River Auray, its location and pretty harbour make it a popular place for visitors.
Thought the department passes the Orleans railway. It is divided into four arrondissements – Vannes, Lorient, Ploermel and Pontivy that have 37 cantons and 256 communes. The capital is Vannes and it is the seat of bishopric of the province of Rennes. This department belongs to the region of XI army crops and to the academic of Rennes. Famous places are Vannes, Lorient, Ploermel, Pontivy, Auray, Hennebont, Carnac and Locmariaquer. The last two are famous for the megalithic monuments.
History
Some other places of interest are Erdeven and Plouharnel that are also known for the megalithic remains. In Elven there are two towers of the 15 th century and remains of an old stronghold. Josselin has the finest chateau of the Rohan family and a church with a tomb from the 15 th century of Olivier de Clisson and his wife. Guern has a chapel of the 15 th and 16 th centuries and le Faouet has a chapel of the 15 th century. Quiberon is referred with the disaster of the French émigrés in 1795. Another town is Sarzeau and close to it there is the fortress of Sucinio dating from 13 th and 15 th centuries. Ste Barbe has a chapel that dates from the end of the 15 th century. It overlooks the Elie. In St Gildas-de-Ruis there is a Romanesque church and some other remains of the Benedictine abbey.
Morbihan is one of the 83 departments that were formed during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was originated from the former province of Brittany.
Gastronomy
Gastronomy in this area includes seafood, crepes and galettes, oysters, cider and Breton cakes.
Useful information:
Tourism office in Brittany
www.brittanytourism.com
Maps of Brittany
www.ign.fr
www.maps.google.fr
Flights
Ryanair flies to Dinard and Nantes
Flybe flies to Rennes and Brest
British Airways flies to Nantes
Air France flies to Nantes
Our team of sale advisers at Sextant Properties will be happy to help you to find a property in Morbihan. We have a large network of estate agents in Morbihan. All of them are registered French real estate agents and speak both French and English. Whatever kind of property you are looking for: farmhouse, longere, barn, gite, B&B, country house, mill, castle or chateau, we will do our best to find a property in Morbihan matching your requirements. To find out more about our properties for sale in Morbihan do not hesitate to contact us.