Morlaix was originally established by the Romans at a ford on the rivers Queffleut and Jarlot which empty into the Bay of Morlaix. The mouth of the river, in the bay, is studded with small islands and on one is the Castle of Taurus, built in the 16C to protect the town from the marauding English! The river is tidal and at Dourduff there is a holiday atmosphere, and oyster beds. In the town the marina is protected with a lock, very close to the famous viaduct.
Morlaix was one of the big ports from which the linen and flax trades prospered, and the big warehouses along the quay show that trade continued beyond the 16C-18C as well.
The Viaduct was built in 1860-61 and is the feature most associated with the town. It spans a very narrow valley and exploring the town involves a lot of upping and downing!
In the Middle Ages the old quarter, the City, was of course walled, with five gates. Nothing remains of the Castle apart from some walls and a broken tower.
In the old quarter the streets wind and houses overhang. The Duchess Anne’s house (black and white woodwork below) is 16C and one of the oldest houses in the town. It was originally a merchant’s home and is now a museum.
The Church of St Mathieu started building in the 15C and continued for another two hundred years.
It had been a long day, with a lot of hills to climb – time for refreshment! This was not my favourite visit, but perhaps there were just too many ups and downs and not enough rewards.
The Church of Saint-Thégonnec in Brittany | London Traveller
[…] Church of Saint-Thégonnec in Brittany is an impressive monument and a must-visit near Morlaix. I have wondered, however, if the disastrous fire in 1998 affected the soul and spirit of the […]
Candy Blackham
Thank you – I do feel I haven’t done justice to Morlaix. Comments like yours make me feel I need to travel round the UK too…
Heyjude
I do like a medieval town and that last photo reminds me a lot of Ludlow (the market square)