Chapelle Notre-Dame de Kerhir
MonumentHidden Treasure
Chapelle Notre-Dame de Kerhir, located in Plounévez-Quintin (Département 22), 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
- Plounévez-Quintin, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.3000, -3.2400
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089512
Nichée dans les terres du Centre-Bretagne, la chapelle Notre-Dame de Kerhir conjugue granit de 1596 et tour classique du XVIIIe siècle, avec ses sablières sculptées et sa flèche ajourée d'une élégance rare.
History
In the heart of Plounévez-Quintin, a quiet village in the Côtes-d'Armor region nestling between the moors and forests of the Argoat, the chapel of Notre-Dame de Kerhir stands as a discreet but eloquent testimony to the Marian fervour that so profoundly marked inland Brittany. Far from the major tourist concentrations on the coast, this granite sanctuary rewards the attentive visitor with an unexpected architectural wealth, the result of two centuries of building work and devotion. What makes Kerhir so special is the way in which two architectural eras coexist without friction. The nave and transept arms, built at the end of the 16th century, still exude the robust austerity of the Breton Renaissance, with its sober lines and granite carved over time. The eighteenth century then added its own touch of baroque and classical elegance: an imposing tower, a circular pedimented doorway and a niche framed by pilasters - all elements that bear witness to the renewed vitality of the parish under the Ancien Régime. The experience of visiting the church is one of intimate discovery. Unlike buildings of great renown, Kerhir offers itself without background noise, in a silence where you can hear the whisper of the wind on the slates. Inside, the 16th-century sandpits are preserved, with their popular sculptures - interlacing plants, grimacing figures and majestic saints - recounting in wood the beliefs and dreams of a farming community. The tower deserves particular attention: its openwork spire rises above a balustraded terrace, a rare combination in a rural chapel, giving the whole a silhouette that catches the eye from the surrounding sunken lanes. For the photographer, the low-angled morning light on the grey-gold granite is an invitation to capture textures of rare density. For the history buff, each stone is a fragment of the 16th or 18th century to be deciphered. For the casual walker, Kerhir is a haven of serenity in the heart of the unspoilt Breton bocage.
Architecture
Notre-Dame de Kerhir chapel has a Latin cross plan, a relatively ambitious shape for a rural building in Central Brittany. The nave, the transept arms and the choir make up the main body of the 16th-century building, built entirely of granite bonded with the care typical of Breton workshops at the end of the Renaissance. The granite, quarried from the surrounding massifs, gives the whole a bluish-grey hue that is typical of monuments in the Côtes-d'Armor region, turning to golden ochre in low-angled light. The most remarkable feature of the interior is the 16th-century sablières, the carved wooden pieces that run along the cornice under the roof structure. According to the tradition of contemporary Breton workshops, they probably feature interlacing plant motifs, human or animal figures and devotional scenes, creating a veritable bestiary and picture book carved by craftsmen whose imagination extended beyond the liturgical space. The western tower, built in 1729, is the most spectacular feature of the exterior. Built from solid granite, it features an openwork spire surmounting a balustraded terrace - a rare feature in a chapel of this size - and a classical-style entrance door. It features a circular pediment above which opens a niche framed by pilasters, with an entablature and curved cornice. The frieze decorating the entrance door completes this decorative programme of French classical inspiration, testifying to a sophisticated architectural culture adapted to the local resources of Breton granite.
Related Figures
Commanditaires paroissiaux anonymes de 1596, artisans de la première constructionMaîtres maçons bretons du chantier de 1729, auteurs de la tour classiqueCurés desservants de Plounévez-Quintin aux XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles, gardiens du sanctuairePèlerins et fidèles de la dévotion mariale de l'Argoat, usagers séculaires de la chapelleInspecteurs des Monuments Historiques ayant instruit le dossier de protection en 1964
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Chapelle Notre-Dame de Kerhir located?
Chapelle Notre-Dame de Kerhir is located in Plounévez-Quintin, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Chapelle Notre-Dame de Kerhir built?
Chapelle Notre-Dame de Kerhir dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Chapelle Notre-Dame de Kerhir open to visitors?
Chapelle Notre-Dame de Kerhir is currently closed to visitors.
