Josselin

Josselin (Breton: Josilin) is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.

For other uses, see Josselin (disambiguation).
Josselin

Josilin
Commune
View of Josselin Castle from the River Oust
Coat of arms
Location of Josselin
Josselin
Josselin
Coordinates: 47°57′24″N 2°32′50″W
CountryFrance
RegionBrittany
DepartmentMorbihan
ArrondissementPontivy
CantonPloërmel
IntercommunalityPays de Josselin
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Nicolas Jagoudet[1]
Area
1
4.48 km2 (1.73 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[2]
2,495
 • Density560/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
56091 /56120
Elevation32–93 m (105–305 ft)
(avg. 30 m or 98 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

History
Banner attributed to Breton and French Knights at the Combat of the Thirty in 1351.

St Meriadek is said to have founded a chapel there during the 4th century. Much later Josslein became a stronghold of the House of Rohan.

An alternative explanation for the location of the chapel concerns a labourer who in 808 discovered a wooden statue in the brambles which enabled his hitherto blind daughter to see. A chapel was constructed on the site of this miracle which subsequently grew into a church (parts of which date back to the twelfth century). A fresco in the church now recalls the Combat of the Thirty summarized below.

In 1351, during the Breton War of Succession (part of the Hundred Years' War), two groups of approximately 30 English knights (led by Robert Bramborough, the English captain of Ploërmel) and Franco-Breton knights (commanded by Jean de Beaumanoir, captain of Josselin) staged an arranged combat at a spot halfway between the Chateau de Josselin and Ploërmel. The Franco-Breton side eventually won after killing or capturing the English force, including Bramborough. This episode was later known as the Combat of the Thirty.

The Castle of Josselin can still be seen today, although only four of the original nine towers remain after the Cardinal Richelieu ordered the castle partially demolished in 1629.

Demographics

Inhabitants of Josselin are called Josselinais.

Breton language

In 2008, 16.05% of children attended the bilingual schools in primary education.[3]

Twin towns

Josselin is twinned with:

Alzey, Germany
Tard, Hungary
Brechin, Scotland, UK [4]

See also

References
  1. "Maires du Morbihan" (PDF). Préfecture du Morbihan. 7 July 2020.
  2. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  3. (in French) Ofis ar Brezhoneg: Enseignement bilingue
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2013-07-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)


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