Guimiliau

Coordinates: 48°29′19″N 3°59′45″W / 48.4886°N 3.9958°W / 48.4886; -3.9958
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Guimiliau
Gwimilio
Commune
Parish close
Parish close
Coat of arms of Guimiliau
Coat of arms
Location of Guimiliau
Map
Guimiliau is located in France
Guimiliau
Guimiliau
Guimiliau is located in Brittany
Guimiliau
Guimiliau
Coordinates: 48°29′19″N 3°59′45″W / 48.4886°N 3.9958°W / 48.4886; -3.9958
CountryFrance
RegionBrittany
DepartmentFinistère
ArrondissementMorlaix
CantonLandivisiau
IntercommunalityPays de Landivisiau
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Elisabeth Guillerm[1]
Area
1
11.22 km2 (4.33 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
1,004
 • Density89/km2 (230/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
29074 /29400
Elevation63–159 m (207–522 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Guimiliau (French pronunciation: [ɡimiljo]; Breton: Gwimilio) is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.

It is noted for the Guimiliau Parish close. It should not be confused with the neighbouring commune and village of Lampaul-Guimiliau.

Population

Inhabitants of Guimiliau are called in French Guimiliens.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 1,841—    
1800 1,557−2.37%
1806 1,328−2.62%
1821 1,397+0.34%
1831 1,464+0.47%
1836 1,495+0.42%
1841 1,590+1.24%
1846 1,596+0.08%
1851 1,530−0.84%
1856 1,497−0.44%
1861 1,625+1.65%
1866 1,625+0.00%
1872 1,521−1.10%
1876 1,523+0.03%
1881 1,526+0.04%
1886 1,511−0.20%
1891 1,584+0.95%
1896 1,562−0.28%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901 1,516−0.60%
1906 1,453−0.85%
1911 1,461+0.11%
1921 1,275−1.35%
1926 1,156−1.94%
1931 1,043−2.04%
1936 949−1.87%
1946 988+0.40%
1954 817−2.35%
1962 786−0.48%
1968 756−0.65%
1975 700−1.09%
1982 760+1.18%
1990 791+0.50%
1999 814+0.32%
2007 933+1.72%
2012 1,028+1.96%
2017 1,009−0.37%
Source: EHESS[3] and INSEE (1968-2017)[4]

Local Saints

Guimiliau, or Gwimilio in

St Miliau
. The name simply means town or settlement (Breton: gwic) of Milio. According to legend, Miliau was a good and just Breton prince, put to death in a dynastic quarrel in the 6th or 9th century.

Guimiliau is also famous as the reputed birthplace of

St Hervé
, a 6th-century ascetic, who is one of the most popular Breton saints.

Parish close

Main article: Guimiliau Parish close
Entrance to the parish close, showing the enclosing wall and gateway.

Breton culture in the historic Léon diocese, in which Guimiliau stands. As the name suggests, a close is a completely enclosed church yard, usually with a commanding entrance arch. Sacred enclosures were a feature of Celtic religion even before the arrival of Christianity. Parish closes today form the foci for pardons
, the annual Breton pilgrimage festivals, which can attract thousands of worshippers.

The parish close of Guimiliau is situated at the upper end of the main village street, with the entrance dominating the village.

The

Passion in statuary. See Calvary at Guimiliau

The church contains many fine examples of polychrome sculpture from the sixteenth century onwards, including several large retables. There is also a fine octagonal baptistery, a carved pulpit and a collection of banners used especially in religious processions at pardons.

Gallery

  • Church and Calvary.
    Church and Calvary.
  • Porch left side.
    Porch left side.
  • Porch right side.
    Porch right side.
  • Nave and choir.
    Nave and choir.
  • Detail from Retable of the Rosary.
    Detail from Retable of the Rosary.
  • Detail from Retable of St Miliau.
    Detail from Retable of St Miliau.
  • Banner of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
    Banner of the Blessed
    Virgin Mary
    .
  • Detail of the carved pulpit.
    Detail of the carved pulpit.
  • Oak carved baptistry.
    Oak carved baptistry.
  • Carvings of birds, snakes and vines on the baptistery pillars.
    Carvings of birds, snakes and vines on the baptistery pillars.
  • Medieval carving in the porch of the church.
    Medieval
    carving in the porch of the church.
  • Retable of St Joseph, shown in the centre with the infant Christ.
    St Joseph
    , shown in the centre with the infant Christ.
  • The two local saints: St Hervé, with St Miliau in the background.
    The two local saints:
    St Miliau
    in the background.
  • Dallam organ.
    Dallam organ.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 9 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Guimiliau, EHESS (in French).
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Guimiliau.
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