Parc naturel régional d'Armorique
Encyclopedia
The Parc naturel régional d'Armorique , or Armorica Regional Natural Park, is a rural protected area
located in Brittany
. The park land reaches from the Atlantic Ocean to hilly inland countryside. There are sandy beaches, swamp
s, strange rocks, fast rivers and the hills of Monts d'Arrée, all blended into one landscape. The park also includes three islands: Île de Sein
, Molène
and Ouessant
.
The wildlife of the park is diverse and interesting to naturalists. There are sea birds on the islands, European otter
s and beaver
s in the rivers and swamps, and interesting birds of prey. In the marshes lives a species of rare carnivorous plant
, the sundew, which captures unwary insects.
hills are one of the oldest geological formations in Europe. They were created as mountains 600 million years ago, thus they are older than the Alps
.
Monts d'Arrée is an area where Celtic mythology and Christian traditions coexist peacefully. A local legend explains why the Monts d'Arrée are so bare: when Christ was born, God asked the trees from Monts d'Arrée to cross the sea in order to greet the newborn child. All trees except for the humble pine
, gorse
and heather
refused to do this, and so they were wrenched from the ground as divine punishment.
Although the highest hill, Tuchen Gador, is only 384 meters high, it is easy to get lost. Low fog is frequent between the hills and above the swamps. The Monts are very irregular. The sharp rocks of Tuchen Gador create a striking contrast to the rounded hills of the Mont Saint Michel de Brasparts. Hiking on the Monts can be treacherous because of the ever-changing weather and the uneven and marshy ground.
Mont Saint-Michel de Brasparts, ( in Breton) is the most famous hill in the range. The Mont is 380 meters high and is the second highest in the chain of Monts d'Arrée
. The Mont was once claimed to be 391 meters high, but this is only true if the height of the Chapel of Saint-Michel is included.
One source claims that the top of the Chapel of Saint-Michel is the highest point in Brittany
however this is adding the height of the building to the height of the Mont, and is not taking into consideration another hill in Brittany which is 383 m high and has a 220 m antenna on top, the Émetteur de Roc'h Trédudon.
The summit of Saint-Michel de Brasparts offers fine views of the bogs of Elez Yeun, and on to Lake Brennilis. When the weather permits, which is rare, one can see the Pont de l'Iroise, and the Bay of Morlaix.
The Chapel of Saint-Michel was built in 1672. It is dedicated to Archangel Michael
. It was vandalized in 1935, when the statue of the Archangel
was removed from the chapel. Now the building is empty.
Elez Yeun is a marshy hollow, visible from the summit of Mont Saint-Michel de Brasparts. Ancient tradition claims that it is one of the gates of hell. The word "ellez" is found in few other names around the region, and comes from the same Indo-European root as the world "hell" in English.
Another sound heard floating on the night wind comes from the mad revels of lost souls. In Christian folklore, the Youdic (Elez Yeun) was thought to be a place to confine the possessed, but Saint Michael has the power to save souls from falling into it.
One legend describes what happened to a priest and a sexton by the name of Job, when they tried to cross Elez Yeun:
The unusual chapel of Saint-Michel is considered to be the home of the Archangel Michael
who acts as the protector of lost souls wandering in the marshland below his hill. Michael and the Devil had a long history of fighting and competitions. One of the stories says that the Devil was angry when Mont St. Michel and the chapel were built, probably because he knew that Archangel Michael
would be protecting the lost from entering the gates of hell at Elez Yeun. The Devil told St Michael that Mont St. Michel was his, the Devil's, to reside in. Not surprisingly, St. Michael had a different opinion. To decide which one of them was going to keep the Mont, the Devil and St. Michael both agreed to a jumping competition. The Devil jumped and fell into a river, whereas St. Michael's wings carried him much farther away. In this way, St. Michael won the Mont for himself, except for the fact that the Devil still lives somewhere below the Mont.
:
In Huelgoat
, unusual rock formations, fast and clear rivers, the lake, and the dark woods create a fairy tale
atmosphere. It is said that King Arthur
walked there, and even hid his treasures in the La Grotte d'Artus, or Arthur's Cave.
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
located in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
. The park land reaches from the Atlantic Ocean to hilly inland countryside. There are sandy beaches, swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
s, strange rocks, fast rivers and the hills of Monts d'Arrée, all blended into one landscape. The park also includes three islands: Île de Sein
Île de Sein
The Île de Sein is a French island in the Atlantic Ocean, off Finistère, 8 kilometres from the Pointe du Raz , from which it is separated by the Raz de Sein. Its Breton name is Enez Sun...
, Molène
Molène
Molène is an island off the west coast of Brittany and one of the Ponant Islands, the largest of an archipelago of some twenty islands. Administratively, it is a commune of the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France....
and Ouessant
Ushant
Ushant is an island at the south-western end of the English Channel which marks the north-westernmost point of metropolitan France. It belongs to Brittany and is in the traditional region of Bro-Leon. Administratively, Ushant is a commune in the Finistère department...
.
The wildlife of the park is diverse and interesting to naturalists. There are sea birds on the islands, European otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
s and beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
s in the rivers and swamps, and interesting birds of prey. In the marshes lives a species of rare carnivorous plant
Carnivorous plant
Carnivorous plants are plants that derive some or most of their nutrients from trapping and consuming animals or protozoans, typically insects and other arthropods. Carnivorous plants appear adapted to grow in places where the soil is thin or poor in nutrients, especially nitrogen, such as acidic...
, the sundew, which captures unwary insects.
History
The Armorica regional natural park was founded through a partnership of local and national government in 1969. The park's three islands of Sein, Molène and Ouessant were collectively deemed a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1988.Monts d'Arrée
The Monts d'ArréeMonts d'Arrée
The Monts d'Arrée are an ancient mountain range in western Brittany which forms part of the Armorican massif. Historically it marked the border of the regions of Cornouaille and Léon....
hills are one of the oldest geological formations in Europe. They were created as mountains 600 million years ago, thus they are older than the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
.
Monts d'Arrée is an area where Celtic mythology and Christian traditions coexist peacefully. A local legend explains why the Monts d'Arrée are so bare: when Christ was born, God asked the trees from Monts d'Arrée to cross the sea in order to greet the newborn child. All trees except for the humble pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
, gorse
Gorse
Gorse, furze, furse or whin is a genus of about 20 plant species of thorny evergreen shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae, native to western Europe and northwest Africa, with the majority of species in Iberia.Gorse is closely related to the brooms, and like them, has green...
and heather
Ericaceae
The Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants...
refused to do this, and so they were wrenched from the ground as divine punishment.
Although the highest hill, Tuchen Gador, is only 384 meters high, it is easy to get lost. Low fog is frequent between the hills and above the swamps. The Monts are very irregular. The sharp rocks of Tuchen Gador create a striking contrast to the rounded hills of the Mont Saint Michel de Brasparts. Hiking on the Monts can be treacherous because of the ever-changing weather and the uneven and marshy ground.
Mont Saint-Michel de Brasparts and the Chapel of Saint-Michel
Monts d'Arrée
The Monts d'Arrée are an ancient mountain range in western Brittany which forms part of the Armorican massif. Historically it marked the border of the regions of Cornouaille and Léon....
. The Mont was once claimed to be 391 meters high, but this is only true if the height of the Chapel of Saint-Michel is included.
One source claims that the top of the Chapel of Saint-Michel is the highest point in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
however this is adding the height of the building to the height of the Mont, and is not taking into consideration another hill in Brittany which is 383 m high and has a 220 m antenna on top, the Émetteur de Roc'h Trédudon.
The summit of Saint-Michel de Brasparts offers fine views of the bogs of Elez Yeun, and on to Lake Brennilis. When the weather permits, which is rare, one can see the Pont de l'Iroise, and the Bay of Morlaix.
The Chapel of Saint-Michel was built in 1672. It is dedicated to Archangel Michael
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
. It was vandalized in 1935, when the statue of the Archangel
Archangel
An archangel is an angel of high rank. Archangels are found in a number of religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Michael and Gabriel are recognized as archangels in Judaism and by most Christians. Michael is the only archangel specifically named in the Protestant Bible...
was removed from the chapel. Now the building is empty.
Elez Yeun
Legends
Elez Yeun is surrounded by many legends and superstitions. It is said that hapless mortals peering into Elez Yeun risked being seized, and dragged down by unseen forces below. Malevolent fiends, often taking the form of a great black dog, are heard baying at night.Another sound heard floating on the night wind comes from the mad revels of lost souls. In Christian folklore, the Youdic (Elez Yeun) was thought to be a place to confine the possessed, but Saint Michael has the power to save souls from falling into it.
One legend describes what happened to a priest and a sexton by the name of Job, when they tried to cross Elez Yeun:
The unusual chapel of Saint-Michel is considered to be the home of the Archangel Michael
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
who acts as the protector of lost souls wandering in the marshland below his hill. Michael and the Devil had a long history of fighting and competitions. One of the stories says that the Devil was angry when Mont St. Michel and the chapel were built, probably because he knew that Archangel Michael
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
would be protecting the lost from entering the gates of hell at Elez Yeun. The Devil told St Michael that Mont St. Michel was his, the Devil's, to reside in. Not surprisingly, St. Michael had a different opinion. To decide which one of them was going to keep the Mont, the Devil and St. Michael both agreed to a jumping competition. The Devil jumped and fell into a river, whereas St. Michael's wings carried him much farther away. In this way, St. Michael won the Mont for himself, except for the fact that the Devil still lives somewhere below the Mont.
Member communes
The Armorique parkland contains the following communesCommunes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
:
- ArgolArgol, FinistèreArgol is a commune in the Finistère department in Brittany in north-western France. It lies in the east of Crozon peninsula, near the Aulne river.-Population:Inhabitants of Argol are called Argoliens.-References:** ;-External links:* *...
- BerrienBerrien, FinistèreBerrien is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Berrien are called in French Berriennois.-References:** ;* -External links:*...
- BolazecBolazecBolazec is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Bolazec are called in French Bolazécois.-References:** ;...
- BotmeurBotmeurBotmeur is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Botmeur are called in French Botmeuriens.-References:** ;...
- BotsorhelBotsorhelBotsorhel is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Botsorhel are called in French Botsorhélois.-References:** ;-External links:*...
- BraspartsBraspartsBrasparts is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Brasparts are called in French Braspartiates.-References:** ;-External links:**...
- BrennilisBrennilisBrennilis is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Brennilis are called in French Brennilisiens.-See also:*Communes of the Finistère department*Brennilis Nuclear Power Plant...
- Camaret-sur-MerCamaret-sur-MerCamaret-sur-Mer is a commune in the Finistère department in northwestern France, located at the end of Crozon peninsula.-Sights:Camaret-sur-Mer is home to the Tour Vauban or Tour dorée , a historic fortification guarding the harbor and built in 1669-94...
- Cloître-St-ThégonnecSaint-ThégonnecSaint-Thégonnec is a commune in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France.The village is noted for its very elaborate parish close, one of a number in the area, which include Guimiliau and Lampaul-Guimiliau.-Population:...
- ChâteaulinChâteaulinChâteaulin is a commune in the Finistère department in the region of Brittany in north-western France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:...
- CommanaCommanaCommana is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Commana are called in French Commanéens.-References:** ;-External links:* *...
- CrozonCrozonCrozon is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.Crozon is located on the Crozon peninsula on the west coast of Finistère. It is bordered by the communes of Camaret-sur-Mer to the west, Roscanvel to the northwest, Lanvéoc to the north, Landévennec to the...
- DaoulasDaoulasDaoulas is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Daoulas are called in French Daoulasiens.-References:** ;-External links:**...
- DinéaultDinéaultDinéault is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-References:** ;-External links:**...
- GuerlesquinGuerlesquinGuerlesquin is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Guerlesquin are called in French Guerlesquinais.-References:** ;-External links:* *...
- HanvecHanvecHanvec is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-estern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Hanvec are called in French Hanvécois.-References:** ;-External links:* *...
- Hôpital-CamfroutHôpital-CamfroutHôpital-Camfrout is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Hôpital-Camfrout are called in French Hospitaliers or Camfroutois.-References:** ;-External links:* *...
- HuelgoatHuelgoatHuelgoat is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Huelgoat are called in French Huelgoatains.-Geography:...
- Île de SeinÎle de SeinThe Île de Sein is a French island in the Atlantic Ocean, off Finistère, 8 kilometres from the Pointe du Raz , from which it is separated by the Raz de Sein. Its Breton name is Enez Sun...
- La FeuilléeLa FeuilléeLa Feuillée is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of La Feuillée are called in French Feuillantins.-References:** ;-External links:* *...
- LandévennecLandévennecLandévennec is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Ship graveyard:Shortly before entering the roadstead of Brest, the river Aulne forms a bend around the Île de Térénez then the pointe de Pen Forn near Landévennec, where there is 10m depth of water regardless...
- LanvéocLanvéocLanvéoc is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France. The École Navale, the French naval academy, is located here.-References:** ;-External links:* *...
- Le FaouLe FaouLe Faou is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Le Faou are called Faouistes.-Events:...
- Locmaria-BerrienLocmaria-BerrienLocmaria-Berrien is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Locmaria-Berrien are called in French Locberrienois.-References:** ;...
- Logonna-DaoulasLogonna-DaoulasLogonna-Daoulas is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Logonna-Daoulas are called in FrenchLogonnais.-References:** ;-External links:* *...
- LopérecLopérecLopérec is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Lopérec are called in French Lopérécois.-References:** ;-External links:* *...
- LoqueffretLoqueffretLoqueffret is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Loqueffret are called in FrenchLoqueffretois.-References:** -External links:* *...
- MolèneMolèneMolène is an island off the west coast of Brittany and one of the Ponant Islands, the largest of an archipelago of some twenty islands. Administratively, it is a commune of the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France....
- OuessantUshantUshant is an island at the south-western end of the English Channel which marks the north-westernmost point of metropolitan France. It belongs to Brittany and is in the traditional region of Bro-Leon. Administratively, Ushant is a commune in the Finistère department...
- PleybenPleybenPleyben is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Pleyben are called in FrenchPleybennois.-References:** -External links:**...
- PlougonvenPlougonvenPlougonven is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Plougonven are known in French as Plougonvenois.-International relations:Plougonven is twinned with Inniscarra, County Cork, Ireland ....
- Plounéour-MénezPlounéour-MénezPlounéour-Ménez is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Plounéour-Ménez are called Énéouriens.-References:** -External links:*...
- Pont-de-Buis-lès-QuimerchPont-de-Buis-lès-QuimerchPont-de-Buis-lès-Quimerch is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Pont-de-Buis-lès-Quimerch are called in French Pontdebuisiens.-References:** -External links:**...
- Port-LaunayPort-LaunayPort-Launay is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Port-Launay are called Port-Launistes.-References:** -External links:* *...
- RoscanvelRoscanvelRoscanvel is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Roscanvel are called in French Roscanvelistes.-See also:*Quélern*Communes of the Finistère department...
- RosnoënRosnoënRosnoën is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Rosnoën are called in French Rosnoënais.-References:** -External links:* *...
- Saint-CoulitzSaint-CoulitzSaint-Coulitz is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-See also:*Communes of the Finistère department* Kofi Yamgnane , former mayor of the village.*Parc naturel régional d'Armorique-References:**...
- Saint-EloySaint-Eloy, FinistèreSaint-Eloy is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-References:** -External links:*...
- Saint-RivoalSaint-RivoalSaint-Rivoal is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Saint-Rivoal are called Saint-Rivoaliens.-Breton language:...
- Saint-SégalSaint-SégalSaint-Ségal is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-References:** -External links:* *...
- ScrignacScrignacScrignac is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Scrignac are called in French Scrignacois.-References:** -External links:*...
- SizunSizunSizun is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-Population:Inhabitants of Sizun are called in French Sizuniens.-References:** -External links:* *...
- Telgruc-sur-MerTelgruc-sur-MerTelgruc-sur-Mer is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-References:** -External links:* *...
- TrégarvanTrégarvanTrégarvan is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.-References:** -External links:* *...
Huelgoat
Huelgoat
Huelgoat is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Huelgoat are called in French Huelgoatains.-Geography:...
, unusual rock formations, fast and clear rivers, the lake, and the dark woods create a fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
atmosphere. It is said that King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
walked there, and even hid his treasures in the La Grotte d'Artus, or Arthur's Cave.
External links
- Parc naturel régional d'Armorique – Official website
- The Armorique Regional Natural Park – Brittany Tourist Board