Merlevenez

Merlevenez is a commune with 3,100 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Morbihan in the Brittany region.

Geography

The municipality is located in the southwest of the department about 5 kilometers east of the agglomeration of Lorient zwischem the Blavet and the Ria d'Etel.

Merlevenez borders in the north on the community Kervignac, to the east by Nostang and Sainte -Hélène, to the south Plouhinec, on the southwest by Riantec as well as in the far west to Locmiquelic. The settlement is found almost exclusively in the central place Melevenez.

History

The foundation of the town dates back to the Knights Templar, who built there in the 12th century as a monastery and a chapel. The name changed several times, and is first found in 1367 as Breullenevez. Merlevenez receives in 1790 the status of a municipality and initially belongs to the canton Kervignac, in 1801, the community is assigned to the Canton of Port- Louis.

Culture and sights

• Church of Notre- Dame de Joie ( 12th-15th centuries ) with intact Romanesque portal of the 12th century

Traffic

The community is connected northward over the D9 after Hennebont and eastward over the D33 after Landévant to the French highway system ( N24, N165 ). The metropolitan area of ​​Lorient west of the Blavet is achieved via the neighboring community Kervignac branching from the D9 D194. The D9 leads to the south over the Ria d' Étel by Belz, the D33 in the southwest on to Riantec.

The nearest train stations are in regional traffic in Hennebont, Brandérion and Landévant, with long-distance connection in Lorient and Auray. The nearest airport is Lorient Bretagne Sud. Bus service ( Monday to Saturday ) exist to Lorient and Belz.