Cathédrale Saint-Corentin
ChurchHidden Treasure
Cathédrale Saint-Corentin, located in Quimper (Département 29), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Church
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Quimper, Département 29, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.9956, -4.1022
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00090326
A Breton Gothic jewel in the heart of Quimper, Saint-Corentin is astonishing for its mysteriously deviated choir and its neo-Gothic spires, which have dominated the town since the 19th century.
History
In the heart of Quimper's old town, Saint-Corentin Cathedral stands out as one of Brittany's most beautiful Gothic cathedrals, gracefully blending seven centuries of history and architectural ambition. Dedicated to the city's legendary first bishop, it embodies the very soul of a city that has never renounced its Celtic and Christian identity. The first thing that strikes you is the singular silhouette of the building: two slender spires, added in the 19th century, rise to over 75 metres and frame a western facade of Gothic rigour. Between the two towers, an equestrian statue of King Gradlon - the mythical figure of Brittany - has been enthroned since the 15th century, reminding us that this cathedral is as much a civil monument as a religious one. The interior reveals a surprising anomaly: the axis of the choir and that of the nave are not aligned, creating a discrepancy that is visible to the naked eye. Far from being a clumsy mistake, this deliberate - or at least accepted - deviation gives the interior space an unusual perspective and a changing light that surprises the attentive visitor at every hour of the day. The visit unfolds in an atmosphere of contemplation and wonder. The coloured glass roofs filter golden light onto the columns of kersanton, the black stone characteristic of Breton art. The cathedral's treasury contains pieces of silverware and relics that bear witness to centuries of popular devotion. Around the cathedral, Quimper's medieval quarter forms an ideal backdrop: cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, the confluence of the Odet and Steïr rivers - a setting that transforms any visit into a real journey back in time.
Architecture
Saint-Corentin cathedral is part of the Radiant and Flamboyant Gothic tradition, with inflections specific to Breton religious architecture. Its Latin cross plan comprises a deep choir with five bays, a projecting transept and a nave with aisles of seven bays, all built over a period of more than two centuries, which explains the slight stylistic heterogeneity perceptible between the 13th-century choir and the 15th-century nave. The most remarkable feature is the 10-degree offset between the axis of the chancel and that of the nave, a rare phenomenon in cathedral architecture, the origin of which is still debated - a topographical constraint, theological symbolism or simply a legacy of the layout of the original chancel. Externally, the west façade is framed by two square towers topped by neo-Gothic octagonal spires built in the 19th century, reaching a height of almost 76 metres. The central rose and sculpted portals, adorned with voussoirs and hagiographic figures, bear witness to the care taken with the flamboyant decoration. The equestrian statue of King Gradlon, placed between the two towers in the 15th century, is a unique iconographic feature in France. Inside, the slender granite and kersanton columns - a dark stone quarried from the Plougastel peninsula - support the lierne and tierceron vaults characteristic of late Breton Gothic. Stained glass windows from the 15th, 16th and 19th centuries bathe the nave in coloured light, while liturgical furnishings, episcopal recumbents and richly decorated side chapels complete a remarkably coherent whole.
Related Figures
Saint Corentin — ermite et premier évêque légendaire de Cornouaille, patron de la cathédrale, dont la vie miraculeuse est au cœur de la dévotion quimpéroiseÉvêque Rainaud — prélat qui prit en 1239 la décision de construire la cathédrale gothique, lançant le chantier fondateurRoi Gradlon — souverain légendaire de Cornouaille, compagnon de saint Corentin selon la tradition, dont la statue équestre orne la façade depuis le XVe siècleJoseph-Michel Le Soufaché — architecte diocésain du XIXe siècle, concepteur des flèches néogothiques qui couronnent aujourd'hui la cathédraleAnne de Bretagne — duchesse et reine de France dont la dévotion envers les sanctuaires bretons a probablement contribué aux derniers embellissements gothiques de l'édifice à la charnière des XVe et XVIe siècles
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cathédrale Saint-Corentin located?
Cathédrale Saint-Corentin is located in Quimper, Département 29 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Cathédrale Saint-Corentin built?
Cathédrale Saint-Corentin dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Cathédrale Saint-Corentin open to visitors?
Cathédrale Saint-Corentin is currently closed to visitors.
