Auray

Auray: A Historic Commune in Brittany

Auray is a commune situated in the Morbihan department of Brittany, in northwestern France. Historically, it is renowned for being the location of the Battle of Auray on September 29, 1364, which marked the conclusion of the Breton War of Succession. The town's geography is shaped by the Loch river, which flows into the Gulf of Morbihan, with the main urban area situated on the elevated west bank of the River Auray.

Historical Significance and Port Development

The port of Saint-Goustan, located in the river valley, has been a focal point of Auray's history. It served as the original settlement and functioned as a significant trading port until the nineteenth century, with notable maritime connections to Spain and Britain. The port also holds historical importance for its role in the American War of Independence, as Benjamin Franklin arrived there on December 3, 1776, to seek military aid. In a more somber chapter of its history, Auray became a place of execution in 1795 following the Quiberon Expedition, where hundreds of royalist prisoners were shot and buried in what is now known as the Champ des martyrs.

Linguistic and Cultural Heritage

Auray possesses a rich linguistic background. Historically, the Vannes dialect of Breton was spoken by its inhabitants. While French gained prominence from the eighteenth century, Breton continued to be used in local parishes for religious services until the 1930s. Today, Auray is a commune with a blend of historical sites, including the thirteenth-century Chapel of the Holy Spirit and the seventeenth-century Church of St Gildas, and modern infrastructure, including a strategically important railway station that facilitates both national and seasonal tourist travel.