Culture & discovery
Molène

On 16 June 1896 the British liner sank offshore with 242 people. The islanders saved three survivors and buried the dead; the museum keeps objects, letters and photographs of the tragedy.

In thanks, Queen Victoria gave the island an underground 250 m³ cistern fed by 300 m² of paved catchment and the church roofs: on an island with no spring, a vital gift.

Until the 1920s the archipelago lived from harvesting seaweed, burned in stone kilns to produce soda and iodine. The kilns, paths and shelters of Ledenez still tell of that vanished world.

Rebuilt between 1878 and 1881, the church dominates the village; on 15 August the Saint-Ronan festival brings together residents, former islanders and visitors — the day Molène regains its 500 souls of old.