Île de Sein

The Île de Sein [il də sɛ̃] is a Breton island in the Atlantic Ocean, off Finistère, eight kilometres from the Pointe du Raz (raz meaning "water current"), from which it is separated by the Raz de Sein. Its Breton name is Enez-Sun. The island, with its neighbouring islets, forms the commune of Île-de-Sein in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France. Inhabitants of Île-de-Sein are called in French Sénans.

Île-de-Sein

Enez-Sun
Commune
Close-up of the island
Location of Île-de-Sein
Île-de-Sein
Île-de-Sein
Coordinates: 48°02′12″N 4°50′58″W
CountryFrance
RegionBrittany
DepartmentFinistère
ArrondissementQuimper
CantonDouarnenez
Government
 • Mayor (2014–2020) Dominique Salvert
Area
1
0.58 km2 (0.22 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)[1]
249
 • Density430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
29083 /29990
Elevation0–9 m (0–30 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Location of Île de Sein in the Atlantic Ocean
La Vieille lighthouse on the Raz de Sein; the island in the background
L'île de Sein seen from the lighthouse

Lying on the sea routes going south from the English Channel, Sein is well known for the dangers of its waters, the Chaussée de Sein, a vast zone of reefs stretching more than 30 miles from east to west, requiring numerous lighthouses, beacons, and buoys. The lighthouses near the reef include Ar Men, La Vieille and Tévennec.

History

There are two megalithic menhirs on the island, which is flat and treeless.[2]

It is mentioned by the Roman geographer Pomponius Mela.[2]

The island women used to wear a black headdress, and in the past, they had a reputation for enticing sailors onto the rocks by witchcraft. In the past, it was also known for its wreckers.[3]

During World War II, German forces occupied the island. The Île de Sein lighthouse (Le Phare de Goulenez), built in 1839 at the north-western end was destroyed - it was later rebuilt in 1952. After hearing General de Gaulle's call to resistance during World War II in his appeal to the French on 18 June 1940, every male inhabitant aged between 14 and 54 (or 60, according to the island's official website[4]) (variously totalled as 114 to 128) set sail in their fishing boats for Britain to join the Free French forces. For this, on 1 January 1946, the community was awarded the high honour of the Order of the Liberation.

During the 1960s, French artists Maurice Boitel and Jean Rigaud painted on the Île de Sein.

It is featured in the 1995 French film Élisa.

Legend

According to Breton legend, Île de Sein was once home to a group of virgin druid priestesses called the Gallizenae. They are said to have had the power to predict the future, to calm the winds, and to take the forms of different animals.[5]

The writer Robert Graves says that the island was once home to a conclave of nine virgin priestesses believed to hold magical powers, who might be approached by those who sailed to consult them.[2]

See also

Further reading
  • Queffélec, Henri, Un recteur de l'île de Sein, Éditions Bartillat, Paris, 1999, ISBN 2841001210

References
  1. Téléchargement du fichier d'ensemble des populations légales en 2017, INSEE
  2. Graves, Robert (1961). The White Goddess. London: Faber & Faber. p. 111. ISBN 0-571-06961-4.
  3. MacQuoid, Katharine Sarah (1880). Île de Sein is known for wreckers. (phrase search) – via Google Books.
  4. "Site officiel de l'ile de Sein". Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  5. "Gallizenae - Oxford Reference". oxfordreference.com.

Media related to Île de Sein at Wikimedia Commons

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