Le Faouët, Morbihan

French commune|nomcommune=Le Faouët


caption=The covered market at Le Faouët.
native_name=Ar Faoued


x = 30
y = 94
lat_long=coord|48|2|2|N|3|29|25|W|region:FR_type:city
région=Bretagne
département=Morbihan
arrondissement=Pontivy
canton=Le Faouët (chief town)
insee=56057
cp=56320
maire= Francis Le Pichon
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=Communauté de Communes du Pays du Roi Morvan
alt moy=152 m
alt mini=53 m
alt maxi=202 m
hectares=3,403
km²=34.03
sans=2,806
date-sans=1999
dens=82|date-dens=1999|

Le Faouët ( _br. Ar Faoued) is a commune in Brittany. It is part of the Morbihan "département" in the Bretagne "région" of France.

The Breton language name of the commune means Beech forest. The sixteenth century timber market halls are a noted feature of the town and two medieval chapels lies within the boundaries of the commune.

Geography

Le Faouët/Ar Faoued 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

History

Administration

Le Faouët/Ar Faoued is the principal town of the Canton du Faouët. The other communes making up the canton are Berné, Guiscriff, Lanvénégen, Meslan, and Priziac.

Demographics

The population at recent censuses was:
* 1962: 3,039
* 1968: 3,048
* 1975: 3,149
* 1982: 3,177
* 1990: 2,869
* 1999: 2,806

Inhabitants of Le Faouët are called "Faouëtais".

Tourist attractions

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.

Famous residents

ee also

*Communes of the Morbihan department

External links

* [http://www.ign.fr/affiche_rubrique.asp?rbr_id=1087&CommuneId=52269 Le Faouët at the IGN]
* [http://www.recensement.insee.fr/RP99/rp99/co_navigation.co_page?nivgeo=C&codgeo=56057&theme=ALL&typeprod=ALL&lang=FR&quelcas=LISTE Le Faouët at the INSEE]
* [http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/merimee_fr?ACTION=CHERCHER&FIELD_98=INSEE&VALUE_98=56057 French Ministry of Culture list for Le Faouët] fr icon
* [http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/viamichelin/gbr/dyn/controller/mapPerformPage?strAddress=&strCP=56320&strLocation=Le_Faouët&strCountry=1424&image2.x=28&image2.y=7 Map of Le Faouët on Michelin] en icon