Morlaix

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title: "Morlaix" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["communes-of-finistère", "subprefectures-in-france"] topic_path: "geography/france" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morlaix" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox French commune"]

Field	Value
name	Morlaix
native name	Montroulez
commune status	Subprefecture and commune
image	Vue de Morlaix.JPG
caption	Morlaix with its viaduct in the background
image coat of arms	Blason ville fr Morlaix (Finistère).svg
coordinates
elevation min m	0
elevation max m	104
arrondissement	Morlaix
canton	Morlaix
INSEE	29151
postal code	29600
mayor	Jean-Paul Vermot
term	2020–2026
intercommunality	Morlaix Communauté
area km2	24.82
population
population date
population footnotes
::

Morlaix (; , ) is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.

History

The Battle of Morlaix, part of the Hundred Years' War, was fought near the town on 30 September 1342 between the English under William de Bohun, Earl of Northampton and the French under Charles, Duke of Brittany. The result was an English victory and has been viewed by historians as presaging the battle tactics of the Battle of Crécy four years later.

Leisure and tourism

The old quarter of the town has winding streets of cobbled stones and overhanging houses constructed of stone and timber. Many have religious and secular sculptures on their façades.

One of these houses is "la Maison dite de la duchesse Anne", or the "so-called Duchess Anne’s house", which is now a museum, open to the public. This house is said to be one of the oldest in the town. Local legend has it that it derives its name from the fact that the Duchesse Anne of Brittany visited the house during her Tro Breizh pilgrimage. This seems unlikely, though, as construction on the house started in the 1520s and Anne of Brittany died in 1514.

The Museum of the Jacobins in Morlaix, housed in a former convent, traces the history of Finistère.

Morlaix is a popular location for sea sports enthusiasts with a diverse array of activities on offer including surfing, sand buggying and kite flying. Visitors can also find beautiful coastal paths for walks. Inland activities include bowling, golf, horse-riding and many more. There are also a cinema and a swimming pool.

Marina

A tidal river that almost completely dries out at low tide reaches the town of Morlaix where there is a lock into a marina.

Transport

Morlaix Railway Station is served by TGV on the Paris–Brest railway. Immediately adjacent to the station is the , built in 1861–1863, and a national historic monument.
Morlaix is served by the Morlaix Ploujean Airport.

Breton language

The municipality launched a linguistic plan concerning the Breton language through Ya d'ar brezhoneg on 27 June 2008.

In 2008, 6.45% of primary-school children attended bilingual schools.

The Diwan school in Morlaix, founded around 1988, was originally located in very old apartments. In January 2008, the mayor offered the Diwan school a move to a more suitable location, an empty school. In June 2008, the new mayor decided that the Diwan school should move location once again. The town council wanted to use their building to open a new public school. However, the replacement building chosen for the Diwan school was in a very bad shape.

Population

Inhabitants of Morlaix are called in French Morlaisiens.

|align = none |cols = 2 |percentages = pagr |source = EHESS and INSEE (1968–2017) |graph-pos = bottom |1793 |10393 |1800 |9351 |1806 |9937 |1821 |9781 |1831 |9596 |1836 |9740 |1841 |10539 |1846 |11529 |1851 |12393 |1856 |12904 |1861 |14008 |1866 |14046 |1872 |14389 |1876 |15183 |1881 |15346 |1886 |16013 |1891 |16300 |1896 |16027 |1901 |16086 |1906 |15984 |1911 |15262 |1921 |13931 |1926 |13959 |1931 |14073 |1936 |13944 |1946 |15121 |1954 |15037 |1962 |18866 |1968 |19919 |1975 |19237 |1982 |18348 |1990 |16701 |1999 |15990 |2007 |15605 |2012 |15507 |2017 |14559

Economy

Brit Air, a regional airline and Air France subsidiary, is at Morlaix Airport in Morlaix. In 2013 the airline merged with HOP!

Education

Morlaix has six public primary schools, four private primary schools, three public junior high schools, two public senior high schools/sixth-form colleges, two private junior high schools, and one public senior high/sixth-form.

Public schools:

Preschools and elementary schools: Corentin-Caer, Emlie-Cloarec, Gambetta (separate preschool and elementary schools), Jean-Jaures (separate preschool and elementary schools), Jean-Piaget, and Poan Ben (separate preschool and elementary schools)
Junior high schools: Collège du Château, College Mendes-France, College Tanguy-Prient
Senior high schools: Lycée Agricole de Suscinio and Lycée Tristan-Corbière

Private schools:

Preschools and elementary schools: Diwan, Notre Dame de Loures, Notre Dame de Ploujean, and Saint-Joseph
Junior high schools: College Saint-Augustin, College Saint-Joseph
Senior high school: Ensemble Scolaire Le Porsmeur – Notre Dame du Mur

Climate

Morlaix has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb). The average annual temperature in Morlaix is 11.4 C. The average annual rainfall is 976.3 mm with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 17.0 C, and lowest in January, at around 6.7 C. The highest temperature ever recorded in Morlaix was 36.6 C on 18 July 2006; the coldest temperature ever recorded was -9.5 C on 19 February 1985. |location= Morlaix (1981–2010 averages, extremes 1977−2013) |metric first= Y |single line= Y |Jan record high C = 16.5 |Feb record high C = 19.6 |Mar record high C = 25.0 |Apr record high C = 27.2 |May record high C = 29.5 |Jun record high C = 33.4 |Jul record high C = 36.6 |Aug record high C = 36.5 |Sep record high C = 31.2 |Oct record high C = 30.4 |Nov record high C = 21.4 |Dec record high C = 18.5 |year record high C = 36.6 |Jan high C = 9.6 |Feb high C = 10.0 |Mar high C = 12.2 |Apr high C = 13.9 |May high C = 17.1 |Jun high C = 19.6 |Jul high C = 21.5 |Aug high C = 21.7 |Sep high C = 19.9 |Oct high C = 16.4 |Nov high C = 12.6 |Dec high C = 10.2 |year high C = 15.4 |Jan mean C = 6.7 |Feb mean C = 6.7 |Mar mean C = 8.4 |Apr mean C = 9.5 |May mean C = 12.5 |Jun mean C = 15.0 |Jul mean C = 17.0 |Aug mean C = 17.0 |Sep mean C = 15.2 |Oct mean C = 12.6 |Nov mean C = 9.2 |Dec mean C = 7.1 |year mean C = 11.4 |Jan low C = 3.8 |Feb low C = 3.4 |Mar low C = 4.6 |Apr low C = 5.1 |May low C = 8.0 |Jun low C = 10.5 |Jul low C = 12.5 |Aug low C = 12.4 |Sep low C = 10.5 |Oct low C = 8.7 |Nov low C = 5.9 |Dec low C = 4.0 |year low C = 7.5 |Jan record low C = -9.2 |Feb record low C = -9.5 |Mar record low C = -5.3 |Apr record low C = -3.8 |May record low C = -1.3 |Jun record low C = 2.2 |Jul record low C = 4.5 |Aug record low C = 3.1 |Sep record low C = 0.2 |Oct record low C = -4.6 |Nov record low C = -6.0 |Dec record low C = -7.6 |year record low C = -9.5 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 112.2 |Feb precipitation mm = 87.4 |Mar precipitation mm = 77.6 |Apr precipitation mm = 75.6 |May precipitation mm = 69.7 |Jun precipitation mm = 50.0 |Jul precipitation mm = 52.0 |Aug precipitation mm = 51.1 |Sep precipitation mm = 66.5 |Oct precipitation mm = 102.3 |Nov precipitation mm = 108.3 |Dec precipitation mm = 123.6 |year precipitation mm = 976.3 |unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm |Jan precipitation days = 17.0 |Feb precipitation days = 13.6 |Mar precipitation days = 13.6 |Apr precipitation days = 13.0 |May precipitation days = 11.1 |Jun precipitation days = 8.5 |Jul precipitation days = 9.0 |Aug precipitation days = 9.4 |Sep precipitation days = 9.7 |Oct precipitation days = 14.8 |Nov precipitation days = 16.8 |Dec precipitation days = 16.8 |year precipitation days = 153.2 |source 1 = Meteociel}}

Personalities

;born in the 15th century

Jean Coatanlem (circa 1455–1492), corsair and admiral of Portugal.
Nicolas Coetanlem (1460–1519), merchant and sailor, nephew of the former.

;born in the 16th century

Albert Le Grand (1599-1641), hagiographer

;born in the 18th century

Lannux de la Chaume family, merchants, shipowners, financiers, mayor of Morlaix, consulates of Spain in France before the Revolution.
Nicolas Anthon (1714–v.1753), corsair of the port of Morlaix born in Roscoff, captain of the Comtesse de La Marck and the Comte de Saint Pern.
Charles Cornic (1731–1809), corsair.
Michel Behic (1736–1827), merchant, financier, revolutionary, mayor of Morlaix.
Joseph Gueguen (1741–1825), domestic, secretary, interpreter, translator, merchant and justice, born in Morlaix, died in Cocagne (New-Brunswick).
Armand Joseph Dubernad (1743–1799), merchant, financier, revolutionary.
Louis-Alexandre Expilly de la Poipe (1743–1794), French first constitutional bishop, bishop of Cornwall, guillotined on 22 May 1794 in Brest with .
Jean Nicolas Anthon (1747–1790), privateer corsair, captain of the Count of Guichen (1781, shipowner Jean Diot), captured by the English, imprisoned in Falmouth, escaped, resumed activity as captain of the Éclipse based in Dunkirk and in the merchant navy.
Jean Augustin Masson (1749–1808), general of the armies of the Republic and the Empire, who died in this city.
Yves-Joseph Le Denmat de Kervern (1751–1794), a lawyer in the Parlement of Rennes, mayor of Morlaix in 1790, guillotined on 22 May 1794 in Brest with 26 directors of Finistère.
Jean Victor Marie Moreau (1763–1813), born in Morlaix, General of the Revolution, winner of Hohenlinden, Field Marshal of Russia posthumously, marshall of France posthumously.
Joseph Marie Moreau (1764–1849), born and died in Morlaix, brother of the general, lawyer, tribun, deputy head of the Post, député for Ille-et-Vilaine.
Charles Yves César Cyr du Coëtlosquet (1783-1837), general of the armies of the Republic and the Empire.
Luc Urbain de Bouëxic, comte de Guichen (1790), admiral.
Édouard Corbière (1793–1875), sailor, writer, journalist and shipowner.
Joseph Coat (1798–1858), born in Saint-Mathieu (Morlaix) and died in Morlaix; worker and author of a large amount of original Breton tragedies. Founded in Morlaix a troupe of folk theater, father of the poet-worker Vincent Coat (1845-1908), born in Morlaix.
Auguste Barchou de Penhoën, (1799–1855), born in Morlaix, Staff Captain, man of letters, deputy of Finistère.
Jean-Louis Le Loutre (1709-1772), Catholic priest and leader of Acadians during Father Le Loutre's War and the Acadian Exodus.

;born in the 19th century ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Plaque_Louis_Le_Guennec.JPG" caption="[[Louis Le Guennec]] was born in the Hôtel called François du Parc."] ::

Émile Souvestre (1806–1854), writer born in Morlaix, Prix de l'Académie française in 1854.
Arthur-Marie Le Hir (1811–1868), born in Morlaix, theologian and Hebraist, Ernest Renan's master.
Marie Bracquemond, impressionist artist (1840–1916).
Tristan Corbière (1845–1875), poet, Édouard Corbière's son. His bust, by Cyril de La Patellière is in the Bibliothèque des Amours Jaunes.
Vincent Coat (1845–1908), born in Morlaix. Breton poet and worker at the Tobacco Factory, son of Joseph Coat (1798-1858), born and died in Morlaix, author of many tragedies and worker.
Gabriel Pierné (1863–1937), composer and organ player.
Paul Sérusier (1864–1927), post-impressionist painter and Nabi.
Joseph Pleyber (1866-1947), architect.
Maxime Weygand (1867–1965), general, had a manor in Morlaix and is buried at St. Charles Cemetery.
Jules Boucherit (1877–1962), violinist, born in Morlaix, professor at the Paris Conservatory, named "Just" by the State of Israel for harboring his students between 1941 and 1944.
Guillaume Seznec (1878–1954), lived in Morlaix, Lurs sawmill master.
Magdeleine Boucherit Le Faure (1879–1960), his sister, pianist and composer.
Louis Le Guennec (1878–1935), writer and artist.
Nina Ricci (1882–1970), couturière from Italy
Francis Gourvil (1889–1984), writer and resistant.
Léon Le Janne, (1894–1976), MD, resistant ("Commandant Noël"), auxiliary doctor in the 2nd Colonial Infantry Regiment in 1914–1918, commander of the secret army Libé Nord Morlaix and its region during World War II.
Jean Marie Colcanap (1896) Born in Morlaix. Officer French Colonial Army. Distinguished career in Madagascar. Amateur naturalist who made significant geological and paleontological discoveries. Source: Archives of Societe Historique de la Defense, Chateau Vincennes, Paris.

;born in the 20th century

Jean Nicolas, (1901–1984), born in Morlaix, Catholic priest and missionary in the Soviet Union.
Henri Rol-Tanguy (1908–2002), communist resistant, colonel commanding the FFI during the Liberation of Paris.
Joseph Kerharo (1909–1986), pharmacologist and botanist, born in Morlaix.
Michel Mohrt (1914–2011), writer, born in Morlaix, Grand prix du roman de l'Académie française in 1962 and member of the Académie française from 1985 to his death.
Pierre Le Gourierec (1920–1942), born in Morlaix, KIA in Bir Hakeim, Compagnon de la Libération.
Julien Guiomar (1928–2010), actor born in Morlaix, died in Monpazier (Dordogne).
Jean Roudaut (1929–), writer born in Morlaix.
Paco Rabanne (1934–), stylist, spent part of his childhood in Morlaix.
Jean-Loup Chrétien (1938–), astronaut.
Brigitte Fontaine (1939–) singer, author, writer, poet and actress.
Dominique Lavanant (1944–), actress, born in Morlaix.
Patrick Le Roux (1943–), historian
Jean-Michel Caradec (1946–1981), singer-songwriter.
Marylise Lebranchu (1947–) woman politician born in Loudéac (22), mayor of Morlaix (1995–1997), président of Morlaix Communauté (1995–2003), secrétaire d'État (1997–2000), Justice Ministry (2000–2002), vice-présidente de la région Bretagne (2004-2010), MP (1997-), ministre de la Réforme de l'État, de la Décentralisation et de la Fonction Publique (2012-).
Gérard Delahaye (1948–), singer-songwriter and singer for children.
Miou-Miou (1950–), actress, her grandparents lived in Plouénan.
Erril Laugier (1952–2014), pastel impressionist painter, Maître-Pastelliste de France and Ambassadeur Canson, lived in Morlaix from 1978 to 1986, and died there 6 December 2014.
Jean-Philippe Quignon (1961–2012), journalist at Télégramme local newspaper and vice president of the festival des Vieilles Charrues in Carhaix-Plouguer.
Agnès Le Brun (1961–), woman politician mayor of Morlaix since 2008 and MEP since 2011.
El Globos (1964–), French designer, creator of the brand .
Françoise Jézéquel (1970–), football player
Éric Digaire (1972–), musician, member of Matmatah.
Clarisse Lavanant (1979–), singer-songwriter.
Renan Luce (1980–), singer-songwriter, youth spent in Quelern, in Plourin-lès-Morlaix.
Énora Malagré (1980–), TV and radio host.
Tepr (1980–), author of electronic music.

Twin towns – sister cities

Morlaix is twinned with:

ENG Truro, England, United Kingdom (1979)
GER Würselen, Germany (1976)

In addition, Morlaix cooperates with Réo, Burkina Faso.

Gallery

File:Morlaix_Viaduc.jpg|Morlaix viaduct File:Maison_dite_de_la_duchesse_Anne_–_Morlaix.2.jpg|House known as ‘Duchess Anne’s House’ File:Morlaix-20060524-008.jpg|Pondalez house museum File:Morlaix-20060524-012.jpg|Hillside view of the viaduct File:Baie de morlaix.jpg|Bay of Morlaix with the Château du Taureau

References

(9 August 2021). "Répertoire national des élus: les maires".
Sumption, Jonathan. (1990). "The Hundred Years War. 1: Trial by battle". Faber and Faber.
Burne, Alfred. (1999). "The Crécy War". Wordsworth Editions.
Davy-Osborne, Stephen. (April 17, 2019). "Great Destinations in France: A Guiding Light to Brittany".
"[http://www.mda-morlaix.com/index.php/fr/un-hotel-particulier-du-debut-du-xvie-siecle Maison dite de la Duchesse Anne – Official Site]", Retrieved on 13 January 2020
Touristic information at [http://www.frenchpropertylinks.com/brittany/finistere/morlaix.htm Frenchproperty.com]
"[http://www.plaisancebaiedemorlaix.com/en/port-of-morlaix/introduction-to-the-port-of-morlaix Introduction to the Port of Morlaix – Plaisance Baie de Morlaix]", Retrieved on 20 May 2013.
[http://www.klt.fr/histoire.htm] 12 – Article paru dans Morlaix Magazine de Mars 2007; Accessed 22 August 2013
{{in lang
(December 2017)
{{Cassini-Ehess. 24000. Morlaix
[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-29151#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE
"[http://www.britair.com/presentation.php Présentation] {{webarchive. link. (2009-04-08 ." ''[[Brit Air]]''. Retrieved on 21 May 2009.)
"[http://tv.ibtimes.com/air-france-launches-new-low-cost-airline-hop-9873 Air France Launches New Low-Cost Airline 'Hop!'] {{webarchive. link. (2013-06-16 ." ''[[Reuters]]''. 26 March 2013. Retrieved on 26 April 2013.)
"[http://www.ville.morlaix.fr/VIVRE-A-MORLAIX/Education-Jeunesse Education – Jeunesse]." Morlaix. Retrieved on September 5, 2016.
"[http://www.ville.morlaix.fr/VIVRE-A-MORLAIX/Education-Jeunesse/Colleges-et-lycees/Les-colleges-et-lycees-publics Les collèges et lycées publics]." Morlaix. Retrieved on September 5, 2016.
"[http://www.ville.morlaix.fr/VIVRE-A-MORLAIX/Education-Jeunesse/Colleges-et-lycees/Les-colleges-et-lycees-prives Les collèges et lycées privés]." Morlaix. Retrieved on September 5, 2016.
"[http://www.ville.morlaix.fr/VIVRE-A-MORLAIX/Education-Jeunesse/Maternelle-et-elementaire/Les-etablissements-scolaires-morlaisiens/Les-etablissements-scolaires-morlaisiens Les établissements scolaires morlaisiens]." Morlaix. Retrieved on September 5, 2016.
"Normales et records pour Morlaix (29)". Meteociel.
"La Ville et ses jumelages". Morlaix.

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