La Martyre

La Martyre
Ar Merzher-Salaun

The church in La Martyre

Coat of arms
La Martyre

Coordinates: 48°26′59″N 4°09′29″W / 48.4497°N 4.1581°W / 48.4497; -4.1581Coordinates: 48°26′59″N 4°09′29″W / 48.4497°N 4.1581°W / 48.4497; -4.1581
Country France
Region Brittany
Department Finistère
Arrondissement Brest
Canton Ploudiry
Intercommunality Pays de Landerneau-Daoulas
Government
  Mayor (20142020) Chantal Soudon
Area1 18.01 km2 (6.95 sq mi)
Population (2008)2 769
  Density 43/km2 (110/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 29144 / 29800
Elevation 49–191 m (161–627 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

La Martyre (Ar Merzer in Breton) is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.

Population

Inhabitants of La Martyre are called in French Martyriens.

Sights

The village of La Martyre has one of the oldest parish palisades (fr), whose construction was undertaken between the 11th and 17th centuries.

History

The village owes its name to the assassination on 25 June 874 of KingSalomon of Brittany, who had sought refuge in the village church. The church was called "la Martyre" (Ar Merzher, the Martyr) after its desecration, and the name was taken up by the village. As for the king, he was canonised in 910 for his martyrdom and his virtues.

In the Middle Ages, a prestigious tulle fair took place in La Martyre. In the 15th and 16th centuries this fair saw the most activity. Legend has it that the father of William Shakespeare used to frequent these fairs, which no longer take place.

See also

References

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