Ploërmel

Ploërmel (French: [ploɛʁmɛl] (listen); Breton: Ploermael; Gallo language: Pieurmè) is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.[3] On 1 January 2019, the former commune Monterrein was merged into Ploërmel.[4] Inhabitants of Ploërmel are called Ploërmelais.

Ploërmel
Ploermael  (Breton)
Commune
The town hall in Ploërmel
Coat of arms
Location of Ploërmel
Ploërmel
Ploërmel
Coordinates: 47°55′57″N 2°23′46″W
CountryFrance
RegionBrittany
DepartmentMorbihan
ArrondissementPontivy
CantonPloërmel
IntercommunalityPloërmel
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Patrick Le Diffon[1]
Area
1
58.44 km2 (22.56 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2019)[2]
9,791
 • Density170/km2 (430/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
56165 /56800
Elevation19–126 m (62–413 ft)
(avg. 75 m or 246 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Church Saint-Armel

Character of the town

The town is both modern and romantically medieval, and has easy access to most parts of Brittany. Ploërmel is set on the edge of the magical Brocéliande forest, which legend proclaims is the home of Merlin the Magician, amongst other fantastical characters.[5]

History

In 1351, during the Breton War of Succession (part of the Hundred Years' War), the town was occupied by the Montfortist faction, supported by the English. The rival French-supported Blois faction controlled nearby Josselin. Two groups of approximately 30 English and French knights staged a tournament at a spot between the two towns, to show their prowess and make money by capturing opponents. The Franco-Breton team eventually won after killing or capturing the Anglo-Breton force. This was later known as the Combat of the Thirty.

In 1944, 10 Resistance fighters were killed by German soldiers. 31 inhabitants were killed, 125 wounded, by the American air raid on the railway station on 12 June, during the Normandy landings.[6]

On 10 December 2006, the city unveiled a statue of Pope John Paul II. It was a gift by Russo-Georgian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, and has sparked controversy over the separation of Church and State.[7]

The town gave its name to a monastic order, the Brothers of Ploërmel.[8] The Doctor Who actor Tom Baker was a monk of the order for a while in Jersey.[9]

In 2008 from 24 May till 1 June 2008 the City of Ploërmel became the first City in France to host the International Federation of Carnival Cities Congress.[10] The Ploërmel Carnival is the largest in central Brittany and is held on Saturdays at the beginning and end of May.

Breton language

In 2008, just 2.62% of the town's children received either Breton-medium or bilingual education.[11]

Twin towns

Cultural references

Ploërmel was one of the favourite places of the South African-born British female composer, Priaulx Rainier. She evoked the place in her work for winds and percussion, Ploërmel (1973).

See also

References
  1. "Maires du Morbihan" (PDF). Préfecture du Morbihan. 7 July 2020.
  2. "Populations légales 2019". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 29 December 2021.
  3. INSEE commune file
  4. Arrêté préfectoral 21 December 2018 (in French)
  5. FrenchPropertiyLinks
  6. memorials in town
  7. BBC News
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-01-08. Retrieved 2007-02-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Tom Baker mini-biography". Archived from the original on 2006-12-22. Retrieved 2007-02-27.
  10. Carnival Cities
  11. (in French) Ofis ar Brezhoneg: Enseignement bilingue
  12. Échanges et partenariats internationaux, Ville de Ploërmel
  13. Partnerschaften der Samtgemeinde Apensen, Samtgemeinde Apensen
  14. Unsere Partnerstädte, Gemeinde Gornau
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