Ancien couvent des Capucins
MonumentHidden Treasure
Ancien couvent des Capucins, located in Landerneau (Département 29), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Landerneau, Département 29, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.4527, -4.2537
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00090026
Au cœur de Landerneau, l'ancien couvent des Capucins dévoile un cloître à piliers octogonaux d'une sérénité rare et une porte Renaissance encadrée de pilastres doriques, témoins intacts du XVIIe siècle breton.
History
Nestling in rue de la Fontaine-Blanche, just a couple of hundred metres from the church of Saint-Houardon, the former Capuchin convent is one of the best-preserved convent complexes in Finistère. Far from the hustle and bustle of Landerneau's famous inhabited bridge, this site invites you to contemplate a completely different kind of architecture: austere and noble, faithful to the Franciscan ideal of simplicity. What makes this monument truly unique is the remarkable integrity of its inner courtyard and cloister. Since they were built in the mid-seventeenth century, these spaces have not undergone any major changes, retaining an original atmosphere that makes this visit an experience of direct contact with Brittany's conventual past. The twenty pillars with octagonal shafts that support the framework of the square cloister create a visual rhythm of great sobriety, characteristic of Capuchin architecture. The visitor's experience oscillates between contemplation and architectural wonder. Passing through the ogival-inspired pointed-arch entrance portal, then discovering a Renaissance arched doorway with Doric fluted pilasters in the south-west corner of the cloister, is like crossing two aesthetic styles in a few steps, like leafing through two centuries of history in a single breath. The setting itself contributes to the enchantment: the local kersantite and granite stones, typical of the monuments of Léon, give the volumes a soothing gravity. The convent complex, although fragmented over the centuries, retains a rare spatial coherence, where the organisation of religious life can still be discerned: the passage from cloister to chapel, from refectory to cells. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1970, the former Capuchin convent remains one of the discreet jewels of Landerneau, a town rich in heritage. It will appeal to lovers of architecture and religious history alike, to photographers looking for soft light filtered through the arcades and to walkers in search of a timeless break.
Architecture
The Capuchin convent complex in Landerneau illustrates the religious architecture of the second quarter of the 17th century in Lower Brittany, characterised by a structural sobriety inherited from the Franciscan ideal, punctuated by discreet borrowings from Renaissance vocabulary. The cloister, the centrepiece of the complex, adopts a traditional square plan arranged around an inner courtyard. What makes it special is the nature of its supports: twenty pillars with octagonal shafts, square bases and capitals, directly support the wooden framework without the use of round or pointed arches. This sober, slender construction gives the gallery an unexpected lightness, while demonstrating a mastery of Breton stereotomy. The most remarkable ornamental feature is undoubtedly the arched doorway opening onto the cloister from the south-west corner. Inspired by the Renaissance, it is framed by fluted Doric pilasters, a sign that the local masons had assimilated the lessons of French classicism disseminated from Paris and the great ecclesiastical factories of the kingdom. The main entrance, on the rue des Capucins side, features an ogival-inspired pointed arch, creating an interesting dialogue between two aesthetics - late Gothic and Renaissance - within the same building. The materials used are those of the Léon region: grey granite and probably kersantite for some of the sculpted elements, giving the façades the dark, austere hue characteristic of Finistère religious architecture. The roofs, probably covered in Breton slate, are a continuation of regional building practices. Despite its fragmentation, the ensemble retains sufficient architectural clarity to understand the spatial organisation of a Capuchin convent from the Grand Siècle.
Related Figures
Les frères Capucins fondateurs de la communauté landernéenne (vers 1630-1650)Les notables et bourgeois marchands de Landerneau, mécènes probables de la constructionLe Père gardien du couvent au moment de la Révolution, contraint à l'expulsion en 1791Les administrateurs révolutionnaires du district de Brest, responsables de la saisie des biens conventuelsLes inspecteurs des Monuments Historiques ayant instruit le dossier de protection en 1970
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ancien couvent des Capucins located?
Ancien couvent des Capucins is located in Landerneau, Département 29 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Ancien couvent des Capucins built?
Ancien couvent des Capucins dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Ancien couvent des Capucins open to visitors?
Ancien couvent des Capucins is currently closed to visitors.
