Hœdic or Hoëdic (; ) is an
island
An island or isle is a piece of land, distinct from a continent, completely surrounded by water. There are continental islands, which were formed by being split from a continent by plate tectonics, and oceanic islands, which have never been ...
off the south coast 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 northwestern
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
. Its bigger "twin sister" island is
Houat
Houat (; , ) is a French island off the south coast of Brittany in the department of Morbihan. It is located, along with two other major islands, in the entrance to the Baie de Quiberon. Its "twin sister" island is Hoëdic.
Administratively ...
.
Administratively, Hœdic 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 ...
department.
INSEE commune file
/ref>
Geography
Hœdic is located in the heart of , a bay in the Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...
off the south coast of Brittany (Rhuys and Quiberon peninsulas), east of Belle-Île and southeast of Houat. It is part of a line of granite crests that includes the Le Croisic
Le Croisic (; ; ) is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department, western France. It is part of the urban area of Saint-Nazaire.
History
In the autumn of 1583, while the Catholic Church in Ireland was illegal and underground, Archbishop Der ...
peninsula, Dumet Island, Houat, Quiberon, and Groix.
Hœdic is a low, undulating plateau, wide by long. Its peak, at an altitude of , is located in the middle of its eastern part, on the road that leads from the village to the hamlet of the Phare. The island's base consists essentially of granite and less often of schists. The coast is an alternation of sandy coves and rocky points of variable height, generally more marked to the north (Beg Lagat, the Old Castle) than to the south (Beg Er Faut, Kasperakiz). There are two marshes, one modest, behind the dune of the new harbor, the other about twenty hectares behind the dune of the old port. In addition to the main island, the town has several small islands, including Roc'h Melen, Madavoar, Cardinals, Mulons, and others.
Human geography
Hœdic has long been associated with familial polyculture of livestock and crops—that is, in farms owned by people and families rather than heavily industrialised farmsHouat
Houat (; , ) is a French island off the south coast of Brittany in the department of Morbihan. It is located, along with two other major islands, in the entrance to the Baie de Quiberon. Its "twin sister" island is Hoëdic.
Administratively ...
, the majority of its land is being invaded by brush.
Hœdic is a car-free island with around 100 inhabitants in the wintertime. During the summer, its population can reach 3,000, including boaters, tourists, and campers coming to the island. The island is connected to the mainland via Compagnie Océane boats year-round and Compagnie des Iles boats during the tourist season (connections from Quiberon).
Demographics
Inhabitants of Hœdic are called ''Hœdicais''.
See also
*Communes of the Morbihan department
The following is a list of the 249 Communes of France, communes of the Morbihan Departments of France, department of France.
The communes cooperate in the following Communes of France#Intercommunality, intercommunalities (as of 2025):
References
External links
*
Islands of Brittany
Communes of Morbihan
Islands of the Bay of Biscay
{{Morbihan-geo-stub
Car-free islands of Europe