Molène

Île-Molène Molenez
Commune
A general view of Molène
Location of Île-Molène
Île-Molène Île-Molène
Coordinates:48°23′50″N4°57′20″W
Country	France
Region	Brittany
Department	Finistère
Arrondissement	Brest
Canton	Saint-Renan
Intercommunality	Pays d'Iroise
Government
• Mayor(2020–2026)	Didier Delhalle
Area 1	0.75 km2(0.29 sq mi)
Population (2020)	162
• Density	220/km2(560/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00(CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	29084/29259
Elevation	0–26 m (0–85 ft)
1French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2(0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

MolèneorMolene(French:Île-Molène;Breton:Molenez,"Bald Island" ) is anislandin theAtlanticoff the west coast ofBrittanyin northwesternFrance.It is the largest ofMolèneorMolene Archipelago(Archipel de Molène), a group of about 20 islands in thePonant Isles.anarchipelagoof twenty islands. It is the seat ofÎle-Molène,acommuneinSaint-RenanCanton,BrestArrondissement,FinistèreDepartment.

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 tinytidal island,the Lédénes of Molène. The area is proverbially dangerous for sailors to navigate, with one Breton rhyme being "Qui voit Molène voit sa peine. Qui voitOuessantvoit son sang. Qui voitSeinvoit sa fin. Qui voitGroixvoit sa croix."(" He who sees Molène sees his pain. He who sees Ushant sees his blood. He who sees Sein sees his end. He who sees Groix sees his cross ").

The archipelago includesUshant,Quémènès,Île Verte,andÎle de Sein.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	527	—
1975	397	−3.97%
1982	330	−2.61%
1990	277	−2.16%
1999	264	−0.53%
2009	211	−2.22%
2014	151	−6.47%
2020	162	+1.18%
Source: INSEE

The number of permanent residents has fallen in recent decades, but Molène remains inhabited, with a permanent population of 162 as of 2020. In French, an inhabitants of Île-Molène is called aMolénais.

Amenities

The island's electricity is produced by a smalldiesel generator.Potable water supplies are fromrainwater catchment,with each household additionally maintaining its owncistern.

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

See also

• Communes of the Finistère department
• Parc naturel régional d'Armorique

External links

• Island official website(in French)
• Commune official website(in French)
• Base Mérimée:Search for heritage in the commune,Ministère français de la Culture.(in French)