CITINERARY: Morlaix

With one foot in the Leon area and the other in Tregor, Morlaix nestles in an estuary enclosed by the foothills of the Monts d’Arrée mountains. This town, brimming with art and history, is lovely to look at, whether from below the tiered storeys of its famous half-timbered houses, or from the heights of its viaduct.
Houses, a bridge and a delightful harbour!

1. IT is a magnificent townhouse dating from the early 16th century. This style, known as ‘Maison à Lanterne’ or Lantern House, is a key architectural emblem of Renaissance Morlaix. The ‘lantern’ refers to the inner courtyard which is covered and houses a huge monumental fireplace as well as a spiral staircase in sculpted oak, enabling people to pass between the front and back rooms across three floors.

2. THIS ancient covered market was the heart of the town’s activity. Today IT is the place of the Sunday market. One can admire the wooden carved characters, magnificent houses, and the “Ty Coz”, the oldest inn of Morlaix from 15th century.

3. IT is of flamboyant Gothic style (15C) dedicated to Melaine de Rennes. IT was listed as a historic monument in 1914. IT has three naves covered by wooden vaults with tie-beams. IT sits near the Morlaix railway viaduct.

4. IT is 292 metres long and 62 metres high. ITS main range is 15.50 m. IT has two levels with nine arches of 13.47 m opening on the lower level and fourteen arches of 15.50 m on the upper level. The piles are between 11.16 and 19.36 m thick.

5. Dating from the late 16th century, IT houses the Architecture and Heritage Visitor Centre for Morlaix Bay, which offers both a fun and educational way to discover the area’s wealth of natural, cultural and heritage gems. The aim is to make you want to visit all the sites!

6. IT was once a hub of maritime trade, and is lined with buildings with imposing facades, built during the 1730s. The tobacco factory, nicknamed the ‘Manu’ (from ‘Manufacture de Tabac’), is a testament to Morlaix’s manufacturing past and there’s still something of the rebellious spirit about the place that you can see in its buildings, now converted into arts venues.

7. This beautiful building housed an entire tobacco-related industry for 260 years, which disappeared in 2004. As early as 2000, anticipating this closure, local stakeholders mobilized and today IT is buzzing with varied activities and projects for the future.

8. IT is an historic monument and a 16th century timbered construction. An immense granite fireplace and spiral staircase make bold statements in its vast central space. Set over 4 floors, the works and artefacts of the collection housed here bear testimony to the daily life of Morlaix’s inhabitants, architecture and history.