Sarzeau (French pronunciation: [saʁzo]; Breton: Sarzhav) is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.[3]

Sarzeau
Sarzhav
Suscinio Castle
Suscinio Castle
Coat of arms of Sarzeau
Location of Sarzeau
Map
Sarzeau is located in France
Sarzeau
Sarzeau
Sarzeau is located in Brittany
Sarzeau
Sarzeau
Coordinates: 47°31′41″N 2°46′07″W / 47.5281°N 2.7686°W / 47.5281; -2.7686
CountryFrance
RegionBrittany
DepartmentMorbihan
ArrondissementVannes
CantonSéné
IntercommunalityGolfe du Morbihan - Vannes Agglomération
Government
 • Mayor (2021–2026) Jean-Marc Dupeyrat[1]
Area
1
60.23 km2 (23.25 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
8,977
 • Density150/km2 (390/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
56240 /56370
Elevation0–42 m (0–138 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

It is located on the Rhuys peninsula between the Gulf of Morbihan and the Atlantic Ocean.

History

edit

The area around the Morbihan has been occupied since neolithic times. Prehistoric monuments remaining include the menhirs of Kermaillard and Largueven, as well as the dolmens of Kergillet and Brillac. The town itself was first mentioned in the 11th century in reference to an abbey at the site [1]. The nearby Château de Suscinio was built in the 13th century and fortified in the 15th century. The castle was a favorite spot of the Dukes of Brittany who often came for the hunting in the surrounding region [2]. During the Middle Ages, because of its size the town was divided into seven local divisions, a situation that still exists to some extent. The town officially became a commune during the French Revolution.

Sarzeau was the birthplace of Alain-René Lesage (1668–1747), the author of novel The Devil upon Two Sticks (1707), his comedy Turcaret (1709) and his picaresque novel Gil Blas, (1715–1735).[4]

Population

edit

Inhabitants of Sarzeau are called in French Sarzeautins.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 3,676—    
1975 4,088+1.53%
1982 4,406+1.08%
1990 4,972+1.52%
1999 6,143+2.38%
2007 7,330+2.23%
2012 7,710+1.02%
2017 8,182+1.20%
Source: INSEE[5]

Sights

edit
  • The Château de Suscinio is a 13th-century castle that has recently been restored. Inside there is also a museum on the history of the area.
  • The Château de Kerlevenan is an 18th-century castle with large gardens.
  • Museum of Arts et Métiers and Cider Museum.
  • Menhirs of Kermaillard and Largueven, and the dolmens of Kergillet and Brillac.
  • Beaches, especially along the Atlantic side.

Sport

edit

Stage four of the 2018 Tour de France finished in the town.

Breton language

edit

The municipality launched a linguistic plan through Ya d'ar brezhoneg on 20 December 2006.

In 2008, there was 4,59% of the children attended the bilingual schools in primary education.[6]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 4 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ INSEE commune file
  4. ^ Saintsbury, George (1911). "Le Sage, Alain René" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). pp. 486–487.
  5. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  6. ^ (in French) Ofis ar Brezhoneg: Enseignement bilingue
edit