Groix

Commune in Brittany, France

Groix Groe
Commune
Aerial view of Groix
Coat of arms
Location of Groix
(2020–2026)		Dominique Yvon^[1]
Area ¹	14.82 km² (5.72 sq mi)
Population (2021)^[2]	2,282
• Density	150/km² (400/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	56069 /56590
Elevation	0–48 m (0–157 ft)
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Groix (French pronunciation: [ɡʁwa]; Breton: Enez Groe) is an island and a commune in the Morbihan department of the region of Brittany in north-western France.

Groix lies a few kilometres off the coast of Lorient. Several ferries a day run from Lorient to Groix.

There are a few small towns on the island. High cliffs are on its north coast and sandy beaches in secluded coves on the south coast. Groix is also home to a wide variety of sea birds. Groix is also famous for hosting the only convex beach in Europe, which also moves following sea currents. During the last 15 years, the beach moved half a kilometer westbound.

The geology of Groix is distinct from that of the nearby continent, and the east and south coasts have been designated a mineral nature reserve since 1982.^{[citation needed]} More than 60 minerals can be found on the island, particularly blue glaucophane (observable on the surface), epidote or garnet.^{[citation needed]} The island mainly consists of schist.^{[citation needed]}

A major naval battle between Britain and France took place off Groix in 1795.

The island is the major setting in the fourth book of The Enzo Files - 'Freeze Frame' - by author Peter May.

Climate

Climate data for Groix (1981–2010 averages)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	15.4 (59.7)	16.6 (61.9)	22.8 (73.0)	25.8 (78.4)	29.7 (85.5)	35.6 (96.1)	35.3 (95.5)	35.2 (95.4)	31.0 (87.8)	26.5 (79.7)	19.5 (67.1)	16.0 (60.8)	35.6 (96.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	9.5 (49.1)	9.5 (49.1)	11.5 (52.7)	13.6 (56.5)	16.6 (61.9)	19.2 (66.6)	21.0 (69.8)	21.3 (70.3)	19.8 (67.6)	16.3 (61.3)	12.7 (54.9)	10.2 (50.4)	15.1 (59.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	5.7 (42.3)	5.3 (41.5)	6.8 (44.2)	7.9 (46.2)	10.8 (51.4)	13.3 (55.9)	15.1 (59.2)	15.3 (59.5)	13.8 (56.8)	11.7 (53.1)	8.8 (47.8)	6.4 (43.5)	10.1 (50.2)
Record low °C (°F)	−9.4 (15.1)	−8.0 (17.6)	−6.2 (20.8)	−1.0 (30.2)	0.4 (32.7)	5.8 (42.4)	7.8 (46.0)	8.4 (47.1)	7.6 (45.7)	1.8 (35.2)	−2.4 (27.7)	−6.0 (21.2)	−9.4 (15.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	95.7 (3.77)	70.6 (2.78)	65.0 (2.56)	61.3 (2.41)	59.2 (2.33)	42.2 (1.66)	42.7 (1.68)	39.1 (1.54)	56.4 (2.22)	92.3 (3.63)	91.3 (3.59)	98.9 (3.89)	814.7 (32.07)
Average relative humidity (%)	87	86	85	82	84	83	83	83	83	86	86	88	84.7
Source 1: Météo France^[3]
Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity, 1961–1990)^[4]

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	3,161	—
1975	2,727	−2.09%
1982	2,605	−0.65%
1990	2,472	−0.65%
1999	2,275	−0.92%
2007	2,291	+0.09%
2012	2,223	−0.60%
2017	2,263	+0.36%
Source: INSEE^[5]

Inhabitants of Groix are called Groisillons in French.

Gallery

A map of Groix
Port Tudy, main harbor of Groix

References

^ "Maires du Morbihan" (PDF). Préfecture du Morbihan. 7 July 2020.
^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
^ "Données climatiques de la station de Ile de Groix" (in French). Meteo France. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
^ "Normes et records 1961-1990: Ile de Groix - Beg Melen (56) - altitude 42m" (in French). Infoclimat. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE

Bibliography

"Gildas, the cabin boy from Groix" 2007 by the students of College Saint Tudy-ile de Groix-*[1]

External links

Official site (in French)
Ile de Groix
Groix info
Ile-de-groix.info
Geomorphology of the area
Base Mérimée: Search for heritage in the commune, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)