Morlaix is set between three hills, which are spanned by a magnificent viaduct. It has steep lanes and paved streets lined with old residences and its marina is right in front of the town gates.

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This beautiful historical town still reminds us of the prosperity of its harbour in the 16th century. Morlaix's town centre is full of stone, half-timbered or corbelled houses (16th and 17th C). Take a tour round the Place des Otages (Hostage Square), Place de Viarmes or even Place Allende and enjoy the beauty of their sculptured facades which have been splendidly restored. In the Rue du Mur (Wall street), visit the Maison de la Reine Anne (Queen Anne's house) (Tel: 33(0)2.98.88.23.26) and admire the uniqueness of the Maisons à Lanterne (Lantern Houses) buildings, or Pondalez. This is one of the special features of Morlaix, which is the only town to have them. They were built in the 15th and 16th centuries. They had two main dwelling sections linked by a glasshouse. The town still has a dozen of them. One of them, 9 Grand Rue, has been restored identically and a lot can be learnt from the extremely interesting tour provided (Tel: 33(0)2.98.88.03.57).

A tour of the laneways is a good way to discover the hidden side of Morlaix, its steep and narrow streets and the steps that climb the side of the hill. One comes across the Saint-Melaine church (1489) in this way before reaching the esplanade from which one has unique view of the Viaduct and the town. You can explore the "fountaine des Carmes" (spring) or the Jacobin museum, a history and ethnography museum, well known for its temporary exhibitions (Tel: 33 (0)2.98.88.68.88). The Saint-Mathieu quarter and its church also have many secrets to be unclosed.

The marina has 153 berths on pontoons and is a very pleasant area right in front of the town gates. From either side of the river you can enjoy the beauty of the Morlaix Bay from the hillside roads. You can also go on boat excursions (find out about them at the Tourist Office).

The Deux Rivières (Two Rivers) Brewery, 1, place de la Madeleine, can be visited in July and August and outside of holiday periods on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. This is where the famous Coreff beer is brewed. (Tel: 33 (0)2.98.63.41.92).

Morlaix, town of the viaduct
One often calls Morlaix the « town of the viaduct », although it only dates from the middle of the 19th century. It was built during the construction of the railway line from Paris to Brest. The engineer Fenoux drew up the plans. The result is prodigious : completely built in granite, 292 metres long, 58 metres high, 14 round arches and 9 classic arches. 11 000 m3 of dressed stones and 54 000 m3 of stones which come from the Isles of the bay of Morlaix and the quarry of the « Ile Grande ». Before the construction of the viaduct, the harbour went right up to the steps of the town hall. A part of the dock was filled going a hundred metres up from the construction and fifteen down, in order to provide the foundations of the viaduct. In addition to this, the building of the viaduct brought about the creation of the major trunk roads. The urban countryside is transformed. The attentive observer will notice the traces of the destruction of the 29th of January 1943, during a sudden raid by the English aviation in order to prevent the provision of fresh supplies to the Germans of the arsenal in Brest. The first floor of the viaduct is open to pedestrians since 1990.

Morlaix, a harbour in the town
Morlaix owes its wealth and its prestige to its maritime activity of the 13th to 18th century. It is one of the biggest harbours on the English Channel, for dried fish, cloth, wood, leather, paper, wine... with destination South and North Europe. Another source of profit for the ship-owners of Morlaix was the shipbuilder’s commercial race. The architecture witnesses this prosperous period. Some frontages still show shop windows of this craftsmanship, which is comparable to the ships built by the shipyards on the river of Morlaix. These corbelled facades display at each floor a continual horizontal band of windows. In 1522, in retaliation of the pillage by the Morlaisien corsairs, the English sacked the town. From this episode was born the pun : « If they bite you, bite them back ! ». The quays of Léon received, in 1736, the Tobacco Factory. This imposing building was built by Blondel, the King’s architect, for the East India Company. The dock and the locks date back to the second Empire. In the 20th century the trafic diminishes. The harbour became inappropriate to the necessities of modern commerce. It had a high point of activity in 1944 with landing of fresh supplies for the American army. In January 1962, the dock was filled. This is now its actual state.

Visits and Entertainment.
-Theatrical guided tours, the alleyways of history.
Tuesdays and Fridays at 8.00 p.m. from Tuesday the 27th of June to Friday the 18th of August
Leaving the Tourism pavilion. Information : Racines et mémoires bretonnes (Breton Roots and Memory),
MJC, place du Dossen - 29600 MORLAIX Tel: (33) 2 98 88 09 94

-The ‘Arts’ in the street
Festival of outdoor artistic creation. Every Wednesday from the 12th of July to the 16th of August.
Free. Information : Centre culturel Ange de Guernisac - Tel : (33) 2 98 88 04 13

-The Brewery of the two rivers
La brasserie des deux rivières 1, place de la Madeleine - 29600 MORLAIX. Tel : (33) 2 98 63 41 92.
Guided tour of the brewery every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 10.00 a.m., 2.00 p.m. and 3.30 p.m..
Out of season on Wednesday’s at 2.00 p.m. on appointment.

-The cigar factory
41 Quai de Léon - 29600 MORLAIX Tel : (33) 2 98 88 15 32

-The printing works of the Télégramme (newspaper)
Imprimerie du Télégramme, rue Anatole Le Braz - 29600 MORLAIX. Tel : (33) 2 98 62 11 33
Guided tours on appointment only for groups (25 people maximum) in the morning from Monday to Friday.

Events
February : festival Panorama
Mid-Jully/mid-August : les Arts dans la Rue every wednesday
December: Les Nouveaux Guttemberg (new technologies)

Practical guide to Morlaix: 16004 inhabitants, "Morlaisiens"
Paris (535km/332 miles) ; Rennes (186km/115 ½ miles) ; Saint-Brieuc (90km/56 miles)

Mairie (Town Hall): place des Otages
Postal code: 29600
Tel: 33 (0)2 98.63.10.10

Tourist Office: place des Otages
Tel: 33 (0)2.98.62.14.94
Fax: 33 (0)2.98.63.84.87

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