ÃŽle-aux-Moines

The Ile- aux- Moines ( island of the monks - Izenah Breton ) is a commune and the same island in the Morbihan department in Brittany. The seven kilometer long and five kilometers wide in approximately cross- shaped island has a size of about 3.1 km ² and is adjacent to the Ile d'Arz one of the two island communities in the Gulf of Morbihan. It includes the island of Ile Creïzic and some other tiny islands.

Due to the shape of a cross, no point lies on the island more than 450 meters from the sea. The island itself is only 500 of Port -Blanc on the mainland. From there and from Larmor -Baden, it is possible to reach the largest island in the Gulf in less than ten minutes. The forested (figs, eucalyptus, camellias, mimosas, olive and pine trees ) "Pearl of the Gulf " is home for artists and day trip destination for tourists. The village has 625 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011); this number is increased from summer house guests tenfold.

History

The Ile- aux -Moines has been inhabited at least since Neolithic times. Evidence are three dolmens ( Kerno, Perhap, Pointe de Nioul ), a menhir ( at Brouel ) and a stone circle ( Cromlech ). The majority of megalithic sites are concentrated in the southern half. The dolmen of Penhap (including Boglieux ) is the best preserved on the island. He has represented some tongue-shaped rock carvings, the axes and a huge capstone.

The slightly oval Cromlech of Kergonan located in the village in the island. With a radius of more than 100 m, it is the largest in France. One half of the stone circle has fallen victim to the building. The still existing semi-circle consists of 36 up to 1.8 m high stones.

In the year 854 caused a donation of the Breton Duke Erispoe to the abbey of Saint- Sauveur in Redon, that from there, the monastery was founded on the island. From the 10th century it belonged to the municipality Arradon. In 1453, the city received the status of a community that was self-employed in 1792.