Meneham history and culture
Built in the mid-18th century 21 metres above the sea, between the Pontusval lighthouse and the Île Vierge lighthouseThe Meneham site was originally a guardhouse, strategically located to protect the coastline of northern Brittany. In 1792, the militia occupying the site were replaced by customs officers: the first real inhabitants of Meneham, they settled in the barracks with their families in the mid-19th century, before giving way to fishermen, seaweed growers and farmers.
History of fishing in Meneham
The destiny of the village of Meneham is inextricably linked with thehistory of fishing and the trade of seaweed harvesting in Brittany. In this hamlet of the village of Kerlouan, the first peasant farmers quickly turned to the riches of the sea, through coastal fishing and the harvesting of seaweed, used as fertilizer in the fields or burned to extract iodine.
Life in Meneham
The particular location of the hamlet, facing the sea and at a distance from any town or trading center, makes daily life difficult for the inhabitants. Young and old help each other in the village to carry out the tasks and chores necessary for all: fishing, harvesting seaweed, drying and burning it in dedicated ovens, working the land, raising livestock and washing clothes. However, the year is punctuated by the Pagan festivals and their festivities: dancing, singing and laughter echo through the village.
Legends and customs of Meneham
Meneham, Brittany 's emblematic hamlet of thatched cottages huddled against the rocks, is the stuff of inevitable legends. The village's history is closely linked to the myth of the shipwreckers: for a long time, the inhabitants of the coastal hamlet of Kerlouan were considered to be wreck raiders who would cause shipwrecks on stormy nights. In reality, Pagan country is a land of sharing and mutual aid, where festive and convivial customs have endured, such as the making of Pastès (festive bread) and the Dañs Round (traditional Brittany round).