Morlaix, Port town in Finistère, France
Morlaix is a port town in Brittany where a deep river inlet reaches inland and steep slopes rise on both sides. Houses built from grey granite and timber frame lean into the embankments, while the stone railway viaduct floats above the valley on two levels.
The settlement grew in medieval times as a harbor for linen and hemp that merchants shipped to England and the Low Countries. English troops raided the town in 1522, after which residents built Fort du Taureau in the bay to repel future attacks.
The name comes from Breton *Montroulez*, meaning "mount of Gwarloez", and locals still refer to the estuary as *an Aven*, the river. People gather in the covered market hall near the riverside, where vendors sell produce and fish brought in from nearby coastal villages.
Cobblestones cover the lanes in the center, so comfortable shoes are helpful, especially when exploring the upper quarters along the slopes. The steep stairs between levels require some fitness, but most cafés and shops sit in the flatter areas near the river.
At Place des Otages stands an 18th-century stone fountain decorated with carved dolphin heads that once supplied drinking water for horses and passersby. Some buildings in the center still have original wooden shutters that merchants lifted to sell goods directly from the ground floor onto the street.
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