Chapelle Saint-Nicodème
MonumentHidden Treasure
Chapelle Saint-Nicodème, located in Lannion (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
- Lannion, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.7406, -3.4956
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089283
Nichée dans le Trégor breton, la chapelle Saint-Nicodème de Lannion déploie son architecture gothique flamboyant du XVe siècle, avec ses pinacles de granite et son porche sculpté d'une rare délicatesse. Un joyau discret inscrit aux Monuments Historiques.
History
In the heart of the Lannion region, in the Trégor region which was one of the most active centres of Breton popular devotion, the chapel of Saint-Nicodème stands out as one of those intimate buildings that Brittany has a secret for: modest in appearance, but with an ornamental richness that only reveals itself to those who know how to look. Dedicated to Nicodemus, the evangelical figure who witnessed the burial of Christ, the chapel has a deep theological link with the liturgy of death and resurrection, characteristic of Breton medieval piety. What really sets Saint-Nicodème apart from the many rural chapels in the Trégor region is the quality of its local granite work, carved with remarkable precision by 15th-century Breton master masons. The façades reveal the characteristics of the late flamboyant Gothic style that developed in Armorica: geometrically infilled windows, buttresses with dripstones, and soberly sculpted gargoyles that give the whole a silhouette that is both austere and lively. The interior offers visitors a rare atmosphere of contemplation. The light filtering through the nave's windows creates a golden half-light that enhances the purity of the vaulted ceiling. Alone in its green setting, the chapel invites visitors to take a contemplative break from the hustle and bustle of the nearby Lannion town centre. It's an experience of suspended time, just what heritage enthusiasts and walkers in search of serenity are looking for. The greenery that surrounds the building is an integral part of its charm: the old trees that shade its surroundings seem to have been standing guard for centuries, reinforcing the impression of a place preserved from the ravages of time. Photographers and watercolourists have long made this one of their favourite spots in the Trégor region.
Architecture
The chapel of Saint-Nicodème belongs to the vocabulary of late Breton Gothic, a particular style that developed in Armorica between the 14th and 16th centuries and is distinguished from continental Gothic by its systematic use of granite, a material that is ubiquitous in the Trégor region, and by its sober yet meticulous ornamentation. The elongated rectangular plan with polygonal apse is typical of Breton rural chapels of this period. Externally, the walls of grey-blue granite from the Trégor region have a well-crafted regular bond. Flat buttresses with dripstones punctuate the side façades, while windows with tiers-point infills flood the nave with subdued light. The western gable, perhaps pierced by a rose or a three-lobed bay that has now been partially altered, was probably crowned by a turion bell or a small stone campanile, like those found on many chapels in the Trégor region. The gable roof, covered in slate, a traditional material of Lower Brittany, leans over a wooden truss frame. Inside, the single nave with its polygonal apse has a barrel vault or painted wood panelling, as was common practice in small 15th-century Breton chapels, which did not always have the means to finance a bonded stone vault. The interior walls may have retained vestiges of polychromy or painted plaster, fragments of which may have survived under later whitewash, providing a potential restoration site for heritage specialists.
Related Figures
Nicodème (personnage évangélique, saint patron de la chapelle, membre du Sanhédrin et disciple secret de Jésus)Évêques de Tréguier (tutelle ecclésiastique historique de la région de Lannion au Moyen Âge)Famille de Kermenguy ou seigneurs locaux du Trégor (probables fondateurs ou mécènes de l'édifice au XVe siècle)Maîtres maçons de la corporation trégoroise (bâtisseurs anonymes spécialisés dans le travail du granite au XVe siècle)Inspecteurs des Monuments Historiques du XXe siècle (artisans de la protection officielle de 1964)
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Chapelle Saint-Nicodème located?
Chapelle Saint-Nicodème is located in Lannion, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Chapelle Saint-Nicodème built?
Chapelle Saint-Nicodème dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Chapelle Saint-Nicodème open to visitors?
Chapelle Saint-Nicodème is currently closed to visitors.
