The old quarter of the town has winding streets of cobbled stones and overhanging houses constructed of stone and timber. Many have religious and secular sculptures on their façades.
One of these houses is "la Maison dite de la duchesse Anne", or the "so-called Duchess Anne’s house", which is now a museum, open to the public. This house is said to be one of the oldest in the town. Local legend[5] has it that it derives its name from the fact that the DuchesseAnne of Brittany visited the house during herTro Breizh pilgrimage. This seems unlikely, though, as construction on the house started in the 1520s[6] andAnne of Brittany died in 1514.
TheMuseum of the Jacobins in Morlaix, housed in a former convent, traces the history of Finistère.
Morlaix is a popular location for sea sports enthusiasts with a diverse array of activities on offer including surfing, sand buggying and kite flying. Visitors can also find beautiful coastal paths for walks. Inland activities include bowling, golf, horse-riding and many more. There are also a cinema and a swimming pool.[7]
In 2008, 6.45% of primary-school children attended bilingual schools.[10]
TheDiwan school in Morlaix, founded around 1988, was originally located in very old apartments. In January 2008, the mayor offered the Diwan school a move to a more suitable location, an empty school. In June 2008, the new mayor decided that the Diwan school should move location once again. The town council wanted to use their building to open a new public school. However, the replacement building chosen for the Diwan school was in a very bad shape.[11]
Morlaix has six public primary schools, four private primary schools,[16] three public junior high schools, two public senior high schools/sixth-form colleges,[17] two private junior high schools, and one public senior high/sixth-form.[18]
Public schools:
Preschools and elementary schools: Corentin-Caer, Emlie-Cloarec, Gambetta (separate preschool and elementary schools), Jean-Jaures (separate preschool and elementary schools), Jean-Piaget, and Poan Ben (separate preschool and elementary schools)[19]
Junior high schools: Collège du Château, College Mendes-France, College Tanguy-Prient[17]
Morlaix has anoceanic climate (Köppen climate classificationCfb). The average annual temperature in Morlaix is 11.4 °C (52.5 °F). The average annual rainfall is 976.3 mm (38.44 in) with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 17.0 °C (62.6 °F), and lowest in January, at around 6.7 °C (44.1 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Morlaix was 36.6 °C (97.9 °F) on 18 July 2006; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −9.5 °C (14.9 °F) on 19 February 1985.
Climate data for Morlaix (1981–2010 averages, extremes 1977−2013)
Jean Nicolas Anthon (1747–1790), privateer corsair, captain of the Count of Guichen (1781, shipowner Jean Diot), captured by the English, imprisoned in Falmouth, escaped, resumed activity as captain of theÉclipse based inDunkirk and in the merchant navy.
Jean Augustin Masson (1749–1808), general of the armies of the Republic and the Empire, who died in this city.
Yves-Joseph Le Denmat de Kervern (1751–1794), a lawyer in theParlement of Rennes, mayor of Morlaix in 1790, guillotined on 22 May 1794 in Brest with 26 directors of Finistère.
Édouard Corbière (1793–1875), sailor, writer, journalist and shipowner.
Joseph Coat (1798–1858), born in Saint-Mathieu (Morlaix) and died in Morlaix; worker and author of a large amount of original Breton tragedies. Founded in Morlaix a troupe of folk theater, father of the poet-worker Vincent Coat (1845-1908), born in Morlaix.
Auguste Barchou de Penhoën, (1799–1855), born in Morlaix, Staff Captain, man of letters, deputy of Finistère.
Vincent Coat (1845–1908), born in Morlaix. Breton poet and worker at the Tobacco Factory, son of Joseph Coat (1798-1858), born and died in Morlaix, author of many tragedies and worker.
Maxime Weygand (1867–1965), general, had a manor in Morlaix and is buried at St. Charles Cemetery.
Jules Boucherit (1877–1962), violinist, born in Morlaix, professor at the Paris Conservatory, named "Just" by the State of Israel for harboring his students between 1941 and 1944.
Léon Le Janne, (1894–1976), MD, resistant ("Commandant Noël"), auxiliary doctor in the 2nd Colonial Infantry Regiment in 1914–1918, commander of the secret army Libé Nord Morlaix and its region during World War II.
Jean Marie Colcanap (1896) Born in Morlaix. Officer French Colonial Army. Distinguished career in Madagascar. Amateur naturalist who made significant geological and paleontological discoveries. Source: Archives of Societe Historique de la Defense, Chateau Vincennes, Paris.
born in the 20th century
Jean Nicolas, (1901–1984), born in Morlaix, Catholic priest and missionary in the Soviet Union.
Marylise Lebranchu (1947–) woman politician born inLoudéac (22), mayor of Morlaix (1995–1997), président ofMorlaix Communauté (1995–2003), secrétaire d'État (1997–2000), Justice Ministry (2000–2002), vice-présidente de la région Bretagne (2004-2010), MP (1997-), ministre de la Réforme de l'État, de la Décentralisation et de la Fonction Publique (2012-).
Gérard Delahaye (1948–), singer-songwriter and singer for children.
Erril Laugier (1952–2014), pastel impressionist painter,Maître-Pastelliste de France andAmbassadeur Canson, lived in Morlaix from 1978 to 1986, and died there 6 December 2014.
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