Le Faouët ([lə fawɛt]; Breton: Ar Faoued) is a commune in the Morbihan department of the region of Brittany in north-western France.
Le Faouët
Ar Faoued | |
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Commune | |
Chapel of Saint Barbara | |
![]() Coat of arms | |
Location of Le Faouët ![]() | |
![]() ![]() Le Faouët ![]() ![]() Le Faouët | |
Coordinates: 48°02′02″N 3°29′25″W | |
Country | France |
Region | Brittany |
Department | Morbihan |
Arrondissement | Pontivy |
Canton | Gourin |
Intercommunality | Roi Morvan Communauté |
Government | |
• Mayor (2020–2026) | Christian Faivret[1] |
Area 1 | 34.03 km2 (13.14 sq mi) |
Population | 2,793 |
• Density | 82/km2 (210/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
INSEE/Postal code | 56057 /56320 |
Elevation | 53–202 m (174–663 ft) (avg. 152 m or 499 ft) |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
The sixteenth century timber market halls are a noted feature of the town and two medieval chapels lies within the boundaries of the commune.
Faoued (french, Faouët) is a breton word meaning beech forest.
Le Faouët/Ar Faoued is located 19 km (12 mi) north of Quimperlé, 33 km (21 mi) northwest of Lorient and 47 km (29 mi) east of Quimper. It lies in the historical region of Cornouaille. Traditionally a Breton-speaking area, the French language became commonly used from the 1950s. The town lies in the valley of the river Ellé. The river Ellé forms the commune's eastern border. The river Inam forms the commune's western border and flows into the river Ellé. Apart from the town, there are about one hundred and twenty hamlets and isolated farms. In the center of the town stands the sixteenth century timber market halls.
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The oldest surviving parish registers date back to 1544. An infamous historical resident of Le Faouët is Marion du Faouët, the head of an eighteenth-century group of bandits who became a local bogeyman after her death.
Until 2015, Le Faouët/Ar Faoued was the seat of the canton of Le Faouët, that consisted of 6 communes.[3] Since the 2015 canton reorganisation, it is part of the canton of Gourin.[4]
Inhabitants of Le Faouët are called Faouëtais.
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
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1968 | 3,048 | — |
1975 | 3,149 | +0.47% |
1982 | 3,177 | +0.13% |
1990 | 2,869 | −1.27% |
1999 | 2,806 | −0.25% |
2007 | 2,901 | +0.42% |
2012 | 2,821 | −0.56% |
2017 | 2,803 | −0.13% |
Source: INSEE[5] |
In 2008, 14,24% of the children attended the bilingual schools in primary education.[6]
The sixteenth century halles, or covered market, remain in use and are a rare surviving example of a large timber structure from the period.
The chapel of Saint Barbara is sited on a hilltop overlooking the Ellé. The fifteenth century chapel of Saint Fiacre was recently restored. The polychrome timber interior was highly regarded, and earned its creator, Olivier Le Loergan, a title of nobility. The stained glass is also noteworthy. Parts of the interior have suffered considerable damage from insects.
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