Île-aux-Moines
Encyclopedia
Île-aux-Moines is a commune
in the Morbihan
department in the region of Brittany in north-western France
.
It is the largest island in the Gulf of Morbihan
. It is one of two island communes of the Gulf, the other being Île-d'Arz.
Access from the mainland is possible from Larmor-Baden
or Port-Blanc.
s and other relics.
In 854, the then king of Brittany
, Erispoe
, gave a donation to the Abbey of Saint-Conwoïon in Redon, created by his father Nominoe
. This became storage space of the abbey.
After the Norman
invasions of the 10th century. the island was handed back to the parish of Arradon
.
In 1453, it was given the status of parish.
In 1792 it became a commune in its own right.
ic relics on the south side:
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Morbihan
Morbihan
Morbihan is a department in Brittany, situated in the northwest of France. It is named after the Morbihan , the enclosed sea that is the principal feature of the coastline.-History:...
department in the region of Brittany in north-western France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
It is the largest island in the Gulf of Morbihan
Gulf of Morbihan
The Gulf of Morbihan is a natural harbour on the coast of the Département of Morbihan in the south of Brittany, France. This English name is taken from the French version: le golfe du Morbihan...
. It is one of two island communes of the Gulf, the other being Île-d'Arz.
Geography
Île-aux-Moines lies in the Morhiban Gulf. It is 7 km (4.3 mi) by 5 km (3.1 mi), with an area of 3.1 square kilometres. It is in the shape of cross and nowhere on the island lies further than 450 metres from the water.Access from the mainland is possible from Larmor-Baden
Larmor-Baden
Larmor-Baden is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.-Île de Berder:Île de Berder is a small island in the commune of Larmor-Baden in the département of Morbihan, Brittany, France....
or Port-Blanc.
History
Île-aux-Moines has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, as attested by the dolmenDolmen
A dolmen—also known as a portal tomb, portal grave, dolmain , cromlech , anta , Hünengrab/Hünenbett , Adamra , Ispun , Hunebed , dös , goindol or quoit—is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of...
s and other relics.
In 854, the then king of Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, Erispoe
Erispoe, Duke of Brittany
Erispoe was Duke of Brittany from 851. After the death of his father Nominoe, he led a successful military campaign against the Franks, culminating in his victory at the Battle of Jengland...
, gave a donation to the Abbey of Saint-Conwoïon in Redon, created by his father Nominoe
Nominoe, Duke of Brittany
Nominoe was the first Duke of Brittany from 846 to his death. He is a sort of Breton pater patriae and to Breton nationalists he is known as Tad ar Vro ....
. This became storage space of the abbey.
After the Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
invasions of the 10th century. the island was handed back to the parish of Arradon
Arradon
Arradon is a commune in the Morbihan department in the Brittany region in north-western France.-External links:* * * -References:* *...
.
In 1453, it was given the status of parish.
In 1792 it became a commune in its own right.
Monuments
There are many megalithMegalith
A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. Megalithic describes structures made of such large stones, utilizing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or cement.The word 'megalith' comes from the Ancient...
ic relics on the south side:
- The cromlechCromlechCromlech is a Brythonic word used to describe prehistoric megalithic structures, where crom means "bent" and llech means "flagstone". The term is now virtually obsolete in archaeology, but remains in use as a colloquial term for two different types of megalithic monument.In English it usually...
of Kergonan, in the middle of the island, with a radius of more than 70 metres, is one of Europe's biggest. - The dolmen of Penhap, 5 kilometres from the main town, is the most well-conserved on the island.
- CrucificesCrucifixA crucifix is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus , as distinct from a cross with no body....
can be found at Trec'h, Brouel and Le Nioul, as well as on Kerno. - The St Michel Chapel