Bannec

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Bannec (also Banneck; Breton name Banneg) is an uninhabited French island in the Iroise Sea, near Brest in Brittany. It lies at the northwestern end of the Molène archipelago, about 4 km (2.5 miles) from the island Ushant. The island is part of two protected areas: Parc naturel régional d’Armorique (Armorique Regional Nature Park) and Parc naturel marin d’Iroise (Iroise Marine Nature Park).

Description and geography
Bannec covers about 11 hectares (27 acres) and measures roughly 800 meters in length by 200 meters in width. Ledenez Banneg is a smaller land area connected to Bannec at low tide but separated at high tide. To the south lie two small islets, Enez-Kreiz and Roc’h-Hir. The nearby Kéréon lighthouse sits on Men Tensel in the Fromveur Passage between Bannec and Ushant. The shores are mostly rocky, with the southeastern coast being a low, sandy and pebbly stretch. The island hosts many seabirds and is not open to general visitors.

Access and population
Bannec is uninhabited and access is restricted to authorized scientific missions.

History highlights
- 20th century descriptions: In 1918, traveler Robert Plé described the islands as foggy and covered with seaweed, noting a sense of mystery and old rites around the rocks. In 1930, Pierre Bouis described Bannec during a visit to the Molène archipelago, noting seaweed harvesters and puffins and other birds. In 1938, André Salmon wrote about Bannec along Fromveur, mentioning rock formations with names like Kastel ar Mouliged and the Kéréon lighthouse on Men Tensel; he also described rabbits and the occasional campers.
- After World War II: The island, like its neighbors, was used by seaweed harvesters. One building survived the war and was restored in 1979 as part of an observatory related to the Cyclops Rocks of Bannec.
- Ownership and protection: Bannec was once owned by the Huon Penanster family and then sold to the NOEL company, which dissolved in 1964. In 1971, Brittany’s Department purchased the island after a public utility declaration. It became part of Armorique Regional Park in 1969, and management was assigned to SEPNB (now Bretagne Vivante) in 1976.

In culture
Bannec also appeared in the 1929 film Finis Terræ (Finis Terræ).

Key data
- Location: Iroise Sea, near Brest, Brittany, France
- Coordinates: about 48.4279°N, 5.0124°W
- Area: 11 hectares (27 acres)
- Length × width: ~800 m × ~200 m
- Population: 0 (2014)
- Administrative region: Brittany; Department of Finistère; Commune of Le Conquet
- Protected status: Part of Armorique Regional Park and Iroise Marine Park

Current status
Bannec remains a protected, uninhabited island with restricted access to protect its wildlife and natural features.