# Andel

> commune in Côtes-d'Armor, France

**Wikidata**: [Q841008](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q841008)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andel,_Côtes-d'Armor)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/andel

## Summary

Andel is a commune located in the Côtes-d'Armor department in the Brittany region of northwestern France. Situated at coordinates 48.49°N, -2.57°W, it falls within the arrondissement of Saint-Brieuc and serves as a territorial subdivision within the French administrative system. The commune has a website at http://www.andel.fr and is also known by its Breton name, Andèu.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Côtes-d'Armor department, Brittany region, France
- **Coordinates**: 48.49°N latitude, -2.57°W longitude
- **Administrative status**: Commune in the arrondissement of Saint-Brieuc
- **Country**: France
- **Department inception**: Côtes-d'Armor established March 4, 1790
- **Commune system inception**: French commune system established in 1789
- **Alternative names**: Andèu (Breton)
- **Official website**: http://www.andel.fr
- **Population range**: 517 to 1,180 (historical data points recorded)
- **Wikipedia article**: Andel, Côtes-d'Armor
- **Wikidata sitelink count**: 44

## FAQs

**What region and department is Andel located in?**

Andel is located in the Côtes-d'Armor department of the Brittany region in northwestern France. It is part of the arrondissement of Saint-Brieuc, one of the administrative divisions serving the department.

**What type of administrative area is Andel?**

Andel is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. The French commune system was established in 1789 following the French Revolution, and Andel operates under this administrative structure as part of the Côtes-d'Armor department.

**What is Andel's geographic position?**

Andel is situated at coordinates 48.49 degrees north latitude and 2.57 degrees west longitude, placing it in the northwestern part of France within the Brittany peninsula.

**Does Andel have any alternative names?**

Yes, Andel is also known by its Breton name, Andèu, reflecting the bilingual nature of the Brittany region where both French and Breton languages are recognized.

**How can I find more information about Andel?**

The commune maintains an official website at http://www.andel.fr where residents and visitors can access local information, services, and community details.

## Why It Matters

Andel represents the foundational unit of French municipal administration, embodying the decentralized governance structure that characterizes France's territorial organization. As one of the thousands of communes across France, Andel plays a crucial role in delivering local public services, maintaining community infrastructure, and representing the interests of its residents at the municipal level.

The commune's location in Côtes-d'Armor places it within Brittany, a region known for its distinct cultural identity, Celtic heritage, and significant agricultural and maritime traditions. Brittany is one of France's 18 administrative regions and comprises four departments, with Côtes-d'Armor being the northernmost coastal department.

The commune system in France, to which Andel belongs, dates back to the revolutionary period of 1789 and represents a unique approach to local governance. With over 35,000 communes in metropolitan France and overseas territories, this system ensures that local communities have direct administrative representation and autonomy within the broader framework of the French unitary state.

For residents of Andel, the commune provides essential services including local governance, urban planning, civil registration, and community facilities. The commune's website (http://www.andel.fr) serves as a digital gateway for citizens to access municipal information and services.

## Notable For

- **Breton cultural identity**: Known by its Breton name Andèu, reflecting the region's distinct Celtic heritage and bilingual traditions
- **Administrative location**: Situated within the arrondissement of Saint-Brieuc, a key administrative center for northern Brittany
- **Historical administrative framework**: Part of Côtes-d'Armor, a department established during the French Revolution in 1790
- **Digital presence**: Maintains an official municipal website at http://www.andel.fr

## Body

### Geography and Location

Andel is positioned at coordinates 48.49°N latitude and -2.57°W longitude, placing it in the northwestern portion of France within the Brittany peninsula. The commune lies in the Côtes-d'Armor department, which borders the English Channel to the north, making it part of the coastal region of northern Brittany. The area is characterized by the rolling hills and agricultural landscapes typical of inland Brittany, while the department's northern coastline features dramatic cliffs and sandy beaches.

### Administrative Structure

As a French commune, Andel operates as the lowest level of territorial administration in France. The commune system was institutionalized during the French Revolution in 1789, replacing the previous parochial and seigniorial divisions. Each commune is governed by a municipal council headed by a mayor, and these local governments handle matters ranging from civil status registration to local infrastructure maintenance.

Andel belongs to the arrondissement of Saint-Brieuc, which serves as an intermediate administrative level between the commune and the department. Saint-Brieuc is the prefecture (administrative capital) of the Côtes-d'Armor department, and the arrondissement system helps coordinate regional planning, administrative services, and governmental functions across multiple communes.

### Department and Regional Context

Andel is situated in the Côtes-d'Armor department, one of the four departments comprising the Brittany region. Côtes-d'Armor was officially established on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution as part of the reorganization of France's administrative divisions. The department takes its name from the "coast of Armor," with "Armor" being the historical Breton name for the coastal region.

Brittany (Bretagne) is one of France's 18 metropolitan regions and is renowned for its distinct cultural heritage, including the Breton language (Brezhoneg), Celtic traditions, and historical identity that predates French annexation in 1532. The region is characterized by its agricultural economy, particularly dairy farming and livestock production, as well as its significant coastline along the English Channel and Atlantic Ocean.

### Historical Population Data

The population figures recorded for Andel span a considerable range, from 517 to 1,180 residents across various census periods. This variation reflects the demographic shifts common in rural French communes, particularly in regions like Brittany where urbanization has led to population decline in smaller municipalities while neighboring towns with better transport links or economic opportunities have grown. The population data points (1114, 1103, 1143, 1124, 1134, 517, 565, 717, 727, 900, 992, 1124, 1144, 1148, 1156, 1170, 1180) represent different census years, showing fluctuations that likely correspond to broader socioeconomic trends affecting rural Brittany.

### Local Identity and Branding

Andel is identified by both its French name (Andel) and its Breton name (Andèu), demonstrating the bilingual character of the Brittany region. The Breton language, a Celtic language closely related to Welsh and Cornish, has maintained significant presence in the region despite decades of suppression during the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, Brittany is one of France's minority language regions where regional languages receive some official recognition and support.

The commune maintains a digital presence through its official website at http://www.andel.fr, providing information about local services, community events, and municipal governance. This online presence reflects the modern approach to local administration, offering citizens digital access to government information and services.

### Relationship to National Structure

As part of the French administrative hierarchy, Andel connects to multiple levels of governance. At the national level, it falls under the jurisdiction of the French Republic, a semi-presidential unitary state established under the Fifth Republic constitution of 1958. At the regional level, it belongs to Brittany. At the departmental level, it is part of Côtes-d'Armor. At the arrondissement level, it falls under Saint-Brieuc. This multi-layered structure allows for both local autonomy and coordinated governance across larger territorial units.

The commune's position within this hierarchy means that decisions made at higher levels of government directly affect local administration, while local needs and perspectives are represented through departmental and regional councils up to the national parliament. This system ensures that even small communes like Andel have a voice in the broader political process while maintaining the efficiency of a unitary state.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
3. INSEE code
4. répertoire géographique des communes
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Annuaire de service-public.fr
7. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
8. Populations légales 2016
9. Populations légales 2017
10. Populations légales 2018
11. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
12. Populations légales 2019
13. Populations légales 2020
14. Populations légales 2021
15. Populations de référence 2022
16. Populations de référence 2023
17. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
18. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
19. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
20. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
21. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)