Molène

Molène (Breton: Molenez) is an island off the west coast of Brittany and one of the Ponant Isles, making it the largest of an archipelago of twenty islands. In tiers of government it is in Finistère, a department of Brittany in north-western France – specifically at the heart of the commune of Île-Molène, which takes in neighbouring islets.

Île-Molène

Molenez
Commune
A general view of Molène
Location of Île-Molène
Île-Molène
Île-Molène
Coordinates: 48°23′50″N 4°57′20″W
CountryFrance
RegionBrittany
DepartmentFinistère
ArrondissementBrest
CantonSaint-Renan
IntercommunalityPays d'Iroise
Government
 • Mayor (2014–2020) Daniel Masson
Area
1
0.75 km2 (0.29 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)[1]
141
 • Density190/km2 (490/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
29084 /29259
Elevation0–26 m (0–85 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

The island is small, less than 1 by 0.9 km (0.56 mi), and covers under 75 hectares (190 acres) of non-foreshore land. The community and port are on the east side, opposite a tiny tidal island, the Lédénes of Molène.

Population

Inhabitants of Île-Molène are called in French Molénais. Usual residents have fallen in recent decades, but Molène remains inhabited, with a permanent population of 169 (2013 census).

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1962596—    
1968527−11.6%
1975397−24.7%
1982330−16.9%
1990277−16.1%
1999264−4.7%
2008214−18.9%
2013169−21.0%

Amenities

The island's electricity is produced by a small diesel generator. Potable water supplies are from rainwater catchment, with each household additionally maintaining its own cistern.

A local delicacy is Molène sausage, which has the distinction of being smoked with seaweed.

Wreckage history

Per a repetitive old Breton proverb, "Qui voit Molène voit sa peine / Qui voit Ouessant voit son sang / Qui voit Sein voit sa fin / Qui voit Groix voit sa croix." ("Who sees Molène sees his pain/penalty / who sees Ushant sees his blood / who sees Sein sees his end / who sees Groix sees his cross"). This proverb underlines local points being often deadly to navigate.

See also

References
  1. Téléchargement du fichier d'ensemble des populations légales en 2017, INSEE


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