# Carnac

> commune in Morbihan, France

**Wikidata**: [Q70925](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q70925)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnac)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/carnac

## Summary
Carnac is a commune located in the Morbihan department of France, specifically within the arrondissement of Lorient. It is distinguished by its significant megalithic heritage, serving as the location for the Carnac stones, Ménec alignments, Kermario alignments, and the Saint-Michel tumulus.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Commune in Morbihan, France.
- **Administrative Division**: Arrondissement of Lorient.
- **Coordinates**: 47.584722222222, -3.0777777777778.
- **Website**: https://www.carnac.fr/
- **Population Figures**: 4183, 4236, 4381, 4251, 4250, 3655, 3733, 3962, 4243, 4444, 4445, 4227, 4236, 4231, 4223, 4215, 4194.
- **Notable Sites**: Carnac stones, Ménec alignments, Kermario alignments, Saint-Michel tumulus.
- **Administrative Status**: Commune of France (inception: 1789).
- **Department**: Morbihan (inception: March 4, 1790).
- **Affiliations**: Related to the Climate Alliance, a network of cities committed to protecting the global climate (inception: March 30, 1992).

## FAQs
**Where is Carnac located?**
Carnac is situated in the Morbihan department in the region of France, specifically within the arrondissement of Lorient. Its geographic coordinates are 47.584722222222 latitude and -3.0777777777778 longitude.

**What megalithic sites are found in Carnac?**
The commune is home to several significant prehistoric sites, including the Carnac stones, the Ménec alignments, the Kermario alignments, and the Saint-Michel tumulus. These sites are classified as stone rows and tumuli located within Carnac.

**What is the administrative structure of Carnac?**
Carnac is a commune of France, a territorial subdivision for municipalities that originated in 1789. It is part of the Morbihan department, which was established on March 4, 1790, and falls under the arrondissement of Lorient.

**What are the population statistics for Carnac?**
Recorded population figures for Carnac include 4183, 4236, 4381, 4251, 4250, 3655, 3733, 3962, 4243, 4444, 4445, 4227, 4236, 4231, 4223, 4215, and 4194.

**What international networks is Carnac associated with?**
Carnac is related to the Climate Alliance, a network of cities, municipalities, and districts dedicated to protecting the global climate. This alliance was established on March 30, 1992.

## Why It Matters
Carnac holds significant archaeological and cultural importance due to its concentration of megalithic monuments, which are among the most extensive in Europe. The presence of the Carnac stones, Ménec alignments, Kermario alignments, and Saint-Michel tumulus provides critical insight into prehistoric societies and their ceremonial practices. As a commune within the Morbihan department, it also plays a role in the administrative and cultural fabric of the French region of Brittany. Additionally, its connection to the Climate Alliance demonstrates a commitment to modern environmental initiatives, bridging ancient heritage with contemporary climate action.

## Notable For
- **Megalithic Alignments**: Hosting the Carnac stones, Ménec alignments, and Kermario alignments, which are extensive rows of standing stones.
- **Saint-Michel Tumulus**: Featuring a significant tumulus (burial mound) located within the commune.
- **Administrative Heritage**: Being part of the Morbihan department, created in 1790, and the arrondissement of Lorient.
- **Environmental Commitment**: Association with the Climate Alliance network for global climate protection.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Carnac is a commune situated in the Morbihan department of France. It lies within the arrondissement of Lorient and is geographically positioned at coordinates 47.584722222222 latitude and -3.0777777777778 longitude. As part of France, the commune is located in a country that extends from Western Europe to overseas territories in the Americas, Africa, Oceania, and Antarctica. Metropolitan France, where Carnac is located, shares borders with Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, and Switzerland, and is bordered by the English Channel, Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea.

### Administration and Governance
Carnac functions as a commune of France, a territorial subdivision for municipalities with an inception date of 1789. It is administratively part of the Morbihan department, which was established on March 4, 1790. The commune falls under the jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Lorient. Carnac maintains an official website at https://www.carnac.fr/. Additionally, the commune is related to the Climate Alliance, a network of cities, municipalities, and districts founded on March 30, 1992, aimed at protecting the global climate.

### Demographics
The population of Carnac has fluctuated over time, with recorded figures including 4183, 4236, 4381, 4251, 4250, 3655, 3733, 3962, 4243, 4444, 4445, 4227, 4236, 4231, 4223, 4215, and 4194. These figures reflect the demographic changes within the commune across various periods.

### Landmarks and Archaeology
Carnac is renowned for its rich archaeological heritage, specifically its megalithic sites. The commune hosts the Carnac stones, a famous collection of stone rows. It is also the location of the Ménec alignments and the Kermario alignments, which are significant stone rows. Furthermore, the Saint-Michel tumulus, a notable burial mound, is situated in Carnac. These sites are all classified as stone rows or tumuli located within Carnac, France.

### National Context: France
As a commune in France, Carnac is part of a semi-presidential republic and a unitary state with a decentralized administration. France operates under the Fifth Republic constitution, established on October 4, 1958. The country is a founding member of the European Union (March 25, 1957) and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (since October 24, 1945). France possesses nuclear weapons, a status attained in 1960, and is a member of NATO (since April 4, 1949).

The French economy is a mixed economy with a nominal GDP of $2.78 trillion USD (2022) and a government budget of €455.2 billion (2023). The currency is the Euro (EUR) in metropolitan France, while the CFP Franc is used in overseas territories. France has a high Human Development Index (0.903 in 2021) and a life expectancy of 82 years (2022).

Culturally, France is known for its national symbols, including the tricolore flag, the motto "Liberté, égalité, fraternité," and the national anthem "La Marseillaise." The country drives on the right, uses the metric system, and operates on Central European Time (UTC+01:00) and Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00). France is also a global leader in tourism and cultural diplomacy, maintaining a vast network of overseas territories that grant it the second-largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the world.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
4. INSEE code
5. [Source](http://www.klimabuendnis.org/nc/kommunen/das-netzwerk.html)
6. répertoire géographique des communes
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Czech National Authority Database
9. Annuaire de service-public.fr
10. MusicBrainz
11. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
12. Populations légales 2016
13. Populations légales 2017
14. Populations légales 2018
15. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
16. Populations légales 2019
17. Populations légales 2020
18. Populations légales 2021
19. Populations de référence 2022
20. Populations de référence 2023
21. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
22. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
23. GeoNames
24. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
25. [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)
26. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)