Chapelle Saint-Laurent de Lannourec
MonumentHidden Treasure
Chapelle Saint-Laurent de Lannourec, located in Goulien (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
- Goulien, Département 29, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.0598, -4.5695
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089976
Nestling in Cap Sizun, the Saint-Laurent de Lannourec chapel displays its sober Breton Gothic style around an exceptional ensemble: a calvary with a triangular base, a votive fountain and a mysterious Christianised menhir.
History
In the heart of Cap Sizun, in this wind-battered Finistère where faith and stone have merged for centuries, the Saint-Laurent de Lannourec chapel stands out as one of the discreet jewels of Breton heritage. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1932, it brings together in a single site several strata of civilisation: medieval Christianity, popular piety in the Renaissance and, even more ancient, the megalithic memory embodied by a carved menhir standing close to the calvary. This rare combination makes Lannourec an extraordinary place of spiritual convergence. The building itself shows remarkable architectural care for a country chapel. The nave and its single north aisle, punctuated by a row of tiers-point arcades, bear witness to the sober, masterful Breton Gothic style typical of the stonemasons' workshops of Léon and Cornouaille in the 15th and 16th centuries. The large diaphragm arch, stretching between the fifth and sixth bays, structures the interior space with a functional elegance characteristic of rural chapels in this region. The experience of visiting goes far beyond architectural contemplation. The compound parish enclosure - calvary, fountain and menhir - forms a striking tableau that illustrates the way in which Brittany has woven together the threads of paganism and Christianity, millennia after millennia. Attentive visitors will notice the sculptural quality of the triangular base of the calvary, a piece of great finesse for the early 16th century. The natural setting adds to the emotion of the place. Set in the unspoilt bocage of the Cap Sizun peninsula, not far from the cliffs of the Pointe du Raz, Lannourec benefits from the changing Atlantic light that gives the granite stones an infinite palette of colours, depending on the season. Photography enthusiasts will find the late afternoon light here particularly dramatic in autumn. For visitors looking to get away from Brittany's main tourist routes, the Saint-Laurent de Lannourec chapel offers an authentic immersion in the heart of Brittany, the land of pardons, healing fountains and enclosures where time seems to stand still.
Architecture
The chapel of Saint-Laurent de Lannourec clearly illustrates the characteristics of Breton rural Gothic architecture of the late Middle Ages. Its original elongated rectangular plan is structured by a single aisle to the north, separated from the main nave by a row of eight pointed arches - a typical ogival shape in Cornish Gothic. The most original feature is the large diaphragm arch, banded between the fifth and sixth bays, which divides the longitudinal space into two distinct zones and carries the bell tower, a common technical and aesthetic solution in Breton chapels of the period, favoured for its lightness compared to the bell tower-porch. The work carried out in the 16th century considerably enriched the exterior silhouette by adding a crossbeam to the north, the beginning of a transept, which broke away from the original horizontality and gave the whole structure a more assertive dynamic. The choir window infills, rebuilt at the same time, are probably in late flamboyant style, with bellows and spandrels typical of Cap Sizun workshops. The interior panelling, also renovated in the 16th century, is part of the tradition of carved groin timbers typical of Cornish chapels. The exterior enclosure complements the building harmoniously: the calvary with its triangular base dating from the early 16th century, the contemporary votive fountain aedicule and the carved menhir form a coherent whole that embodies the superimposition of cultural strata specific to Armorican Brittany. The local granite, the only material used in the construction, gives the ensemble its silvery-grey hue, so characteristic of the Finistère architectural landscape.
Related Figures
Saint Laurent (IIIe siècle) — martyr romain auquel est dédiée la chapelle, patron protecteur dont le culte s'est répandu précocement en Bretagne armoricaineArtisans et tailleurs de pierre cornouaillais (XVe siècle) — bâtisseurs anonymes du plan primitif de la chapelle, héritiers des techniques gothiques de la Cornouaille ducaleCommanditaires locaux du XVIe siècle — notables ou confrérie de Goulien à l'origine de l'agrandissement et des réfections du croisillon et des remplagesInspecteurs des Monuments Historiques (1932) — responsables de l'inscription protectrice qui a préservé l'édifice au XXe siècle
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Chapelle Saint-Laurent de Lannourec located?
Chapelle Saint-Laurent de Lannourec is located in Goulien, Département 29 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Chapelle Saint-Laurent de Lannourec built?
Chapelle Saint-Laurent de Lannourec dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Chapelle Saint-Laurent de Lannourec open to visitors?
Chapelle Saint-Laurent de Lannourec is currently closed to visitors.