Gourin (; ) is a commune in the

Morbihan The Morbihan ( , ; ) is a departments of France, department in the administrative region of Brittany (administrative region), Brittany, situated in the northwest of France. It is named after the Gulf of Morbihan, Morbihan (''small sea'' in Breton ...

département In the administrative divisions of France, the department (, ) is one of the three levels of government under the national level (" territorial collectivities"), between the administrative regions and the communes. There are a total of 101 ...

'' of

Brittany Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...

in north-western France.

Geography

Gourin is in the northwest of Morbihan, northeast of

Quimper Quimper (, ; ; or ) is a Communes of France, commune and Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Finistère Departments of France, department of Brittany (administrative region), Brittany in northwestern France. Administration Quimper is the ...

and northwest of

Lorient Lorient (; ) is a town (''Communes of France, commune'') and Port, seaport in the Morbihan Departments of France, department of Brittany (administrative region), Brittany in western France. History Prehistory and classical antiquity Beginn ...

. Historically, it belongs to

Cornouaille Cornouaille (; , ) is a historical region on the west coast of Brittany in West France. The name is cognate with Cornwall in neighbouring Great Britain. This can be explained by the settlement of Cornouaille by migrant princes from Cornwall ...

. Gourin is on the southern slope of the

Montagnes Noires The Montagnes Noires (, 'black mountains'), also known as the Montagne Noire ( French, 'black mountain') and in Breton as Menez Du are an east–west oriented range of hills in Brittany centred on the town of Gourin. They culminate in the peak ...

(French, Black Mountains). The river Inam rises in the northern part of Gourin and flows to the south.

Map

Demographics

Inhabitants of Gourin are called in French ''Gourinois''. Gourin lost 40% of its population since 1946.

History

This small town is well known for the Révolte des Bonnets Rouges against local nobles at the end of the 17th century. The town is also known for being the origin of many immigrants to United States and Canada during the first part of the 20th century. It has a large copy of the Statue of Liberty standing in the main square opposite the town hall alongside the monument to the fallen soldiers of the 20th century who came from this region. Gourin still has a large number of native Breton speakers. The people of this region are very proud of their Celtic heritage and have preserved many old customs and traditions. center, Place Stenfort in Gourin at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Breton language

In 2008, 18.32% of primary school children attended bilingual schools. ''Ofis ar Brezhoneg''
''Enseignement bilingue''
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People

* Georges Cochevelou, father of the Breton musician,

Alan Stivell Alan Stivell (; born Alan Cochevelou on 6 January 1944) is a Breton people, Breton and Celtic musician and singer, songwriter, recording artist, and master of the Celtic harp. From the early 1970s, he revived global interest in the Celtic (specif ...

, was from Gourin

Twinning

Gourin is twinned with the following place: * Rush,

Leinster Leinster ( ; or ) is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in the southeast of Ireland. The modern province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige, which existed during Gaelic Ireland. Following the 12th-century ...

, Ireland

Gallery

File:Gourin (56) Église 01.JPG, The parish church File:chapelle saint herve gourin.JPG, Saint Hervé chapel File:520 Gourin Chapelle Sainte-Julienne.jpg, Sainte-Julienne chapel File:Gourin manoir Kerbiquet.JPG, Manor of Kerbiquet File:Gourin manoir Minguionnet.JPG, Manor of Menguionnet

References

External links

Official website
*
art movies Gourin

Mayors of Morbihan Association
Communes of Morbihan {{Morbihan-geo-stub