Groix

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 Groe
Commune
Aerial view of Groix
Coat of arms
Location of Groix
Groix Show map of France Groix Show map of Brittany
Coordinates: 47°38′22″N 3°27′13″W
Country	France
Region	Brittany
Department	Morbihan
Arrondissement	Lorient
Canton	Lorient-2
Intercommunality	Lorient Agglomération
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Dominique Yvon[1]
Area 1	14.82 km2 (5.72 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	2,308
• Density	155.7/km2 (403.4/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 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 (546.807 yards) 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

See also

• Communes of the Morbihan department
• Yann-Ber Kalloc'h