Groix (French pronunciation: [ɡʁwa]; Breton: Enez Groe) is an island and a commune in the Morbihan department of the region of Brittany in north-western France.
Groix
Groe | |
|---|---|
 Aerial view of Groix | |
.svg) Coat of arms | |
 Location of Groix | |
  Groix  Groix | |
| Coordinates: 47°38′22″N 3°27′13″W / 47.6394°N 3.4536°W | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Brittany |
| Department | Morbihan |
| Arrondissement | Lorient |
| Canton | Lorient-2 |
| Intercommunality | Lorient Agglomération |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Dominique Yvon[1] |
Area 1 | 14.82 km2 (5.72 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)[2] | 2,310 |
| • Density | 156/km2 (404/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 56069 /56590 |
| Elevation | 0–48 m (0–157 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Geography
editGroix lies a few kilometres off the coast of Lorient. Several ferries a day run from Lorient to Groix.
There are a few small towns on the island. High cliffs are on its north coast and sandy beaches in secluded coves on the south coast. Groix is also home to a wide variety of sea birds. Groix is also famous for hosting the only convex beach in Europe, which also moves following sea currents. During the last 15 years, the beach moved half a kilometer (546.807 yards) westbound.
Geology
editThe geology of Groix is distinct from that of the nearby continent, and the east and south coasts have been designated a mineral nature reserve since 1982.[citation needed] More than 60 minerals can be found on the island, particularly blue glaucophane (observable on the surface), epidote or garnet.[citation needed] The island mainly consists of schist.[citation needed]
History
editA major naval battle between Britain and France took place off Groix in 1795.
In popular culture
editThe island is the major setting in the fourth book of The Enzo Files series—Freeze Frame—by author Peter May.
Climate
edit| Climate data for Groix (1981–2010 averages) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.4 (59.7) |
16.6 (61.9) |
22.8 (73.0) |
25.8 (78.4) |
29.7 (85.5) |
35.6 (96.1) |
35.3 (95.5) |
35.2 (95.4) |
31.0 (87.8) |
26.5 (79.7) |
19.5 (67.1) |
16.0 (60.8) |
35.6 (96.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 9.5 (49.1) |
9.5 (49.1) |
11.5 (52.7) |
13.6 (56.5) |
16.6 (61.9) |
19.2 (66.6) |
21.0 (69.8) |
21.3 (70.3) |
19.8 (67.6) |
16.3 (61.3) |
12.7 (54.9) |
10.2 (50.4) |
15.1 (59.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 5.7 (42.3) |
5.3 (41.5) |
6.8 (44.2) |
7.9 (46.2) |
10.8 (51.4) |
13.3 (55.9) |
15.1 (59.2) |
15.3 (59.5) |
13.8 (56.8) |
11.7 (53.1) |
8.8 (47.8) |
6.4 (43.5) |
10.1 (50.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −9.4 (15.1) |
−8.0 (17.6) |
−6.2 (20.8) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
0.4 (32.7) |
5.8 (42.4) |
7.8 (46.0) |
8.4 (47.1) |
7.6 (45.7) |
1.8 (35.2) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 95.7 (3.77) |
70.6 (2.78) |
65.0 (2.56) |
61.3 (2.41) |
59.2 (2.33) |
42.2 (1.66) |
42.7 (1.68) |
39.1 (1.54) |
56.4 (2.22) |
92.3 (3.63) |
91.3 (3.59) |
98.9 (3.89) |
814.7 (32.07) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 87 | 86 | 85 | 82 | 84 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 86 | 86 | 88 | 84.7 |
| Source 1: Météo France[3] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity, 1961–1990)[4] | |||||||||||||
Population
edit| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 3,161 | — |
| 1975 | 2,727 | −2.09% |
| 1982 | 2,605 | −0.65% |
| 1990 | 2,472 | −0.65% |
| 1999 | 2,275 | −0.92% |
| 2007 | 2,291 | +0.09% |
| 2012 | 2,223 | −0.60% |
| 2017 | 2,263 | +0.36% |
| 2023 | 2,310 | +0.34% |
| Source: INSEE[5] | ||
Inhabitants of Groix are called Groisillons in French.
Gallery
edit
A map of Groix
Port Tudy, main harbor of Groix
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Maires du Morbihan" (PDF). Préfecture du Morbihan. 7 July 2020.
- ↑ "Populations de référence 2023" (in French). National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 18 December 2025.
- ↑ "Données climatiques de la station de Ile de Groix" (in French). Meteo France. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- ↑ "Normes et records 1961-1990: Ile de Groix - Beg Melen (56) - altitude 42m" (in French). Infoclimat. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- ↑ Population municipale entre 1968 et 2023, INSEE
Bibliography
editExternal links
edit- Official site (in French)
- Ile de Groix
- Groix info
- Ile-de-groix.info
- Geomorphology of the area
- Base Mérimée: Search for heritage in the commune, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
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