Chapelle Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux
MonumentHidden Treasure
Chapelle Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux, located in Pluméliau (Département 56), 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
- Pluméliau, Département 56, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.9806, -3.0402
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00091547
Nestling in the heart of the Morbihan region, this 16th-century Breton chapel boasts a striking openwork tympanum, strikingly naive sablières and a fleur-de-lys window worthy of the finest Gothic periods.
History
At the bend of a winding road in the Blavet valley, the chapel of Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux stands out in the Breton landscape like a forgotten jewel from the late Middle Ages. Its Latin cross plan, sober granite elevation and discreet bell tower create a silhouette of restrained elegance, perfectly in keeping with the spirit of rural religious buildings in Morbihan. Far from the exuberance of some of Brittany's most famous chapels, its intimate beauty is all the more striking for it. What really sets Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux apart is the richness of its sculpted details. The sablières in the choir and transepts bear naive and sincere ornamentation, typical of the local stonemasons' workshops of the Breton Renaissance. These wooden or stone friezes running along the junction of the walls and the roof structure tell the story, in popular imagery, of a world of beliefs and symbols where the sacred and the everyday mingle with disarming frankness. You don't need to be a specialist to be moved by their humanity. The facade also holds some wonderful surprises. The geminated side door, topped by an openwork tympanum, is a rare piece of architecture in the Bigouden and Vannes region: the light plays with the interlacing stonework in a subtle ballet depending on the time of day. Inside, the chevet window adorned with three fleurs-de-lis is a reminder of the ties that bound Brittany to the kingdom of France throughout the 16th century, a troubled time when the peninsula was negotiating its attachment to France while jealously preserving its traditions. The natural setting plays a full part in the enchantment. Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux is part of an area of hedged farmland and rivers where the Blavet meanders between shale cliffs and chestnut forests. The eponymous village, one of the most picturesque in central Brittany, envelops the chapel in a timeless atmosphere conducive to contemplation. Photographers, lovers of medieval architecture and hikers will find plenty to linger over here beyond a quick visit.
Architecture
The Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux chapel has a Latin cross plan, a configuration that gives it a more ambitious spatial organisation than most rural chapels in its region. The building is constructed from local granite, a material that is ubiquitous in inland Brittany, whose bluish-grey hue harmonises with the landscape of the Blavet valley. The bell tower, described as simple in the sources, rises soberly above the crossing or the western façade without any ostentatious effect, in keeping with a tradition of restraint typical of rural buildings in Morbihan. The decorative elements are the focus of most of the architectural interest. The double-leaf geminated aisle door, set under a common arch, is topped by a remarkably well-crafted openwork tympanum: the openings cut into the stone create a mineral lace effect reminiscent of the best late Gothic workshops. Inside, the sculpted runners in the choir and transepts are the centrepiece of the decoration: these structural elements decorated with naively naturalistic figurative or plant motifs bear witness to the skills of local sculptors and their ability to breathe life into stone and wood. The doorway on the south side, embellished with an accolade, belongs to the flamboyant Gothic repertoire and contrasts with the general sobriety of the building. Finally, the chevet window adorned with three fleurs-de-lis introduces a symbolic and political dimension that is rare on this scale: the royal motif, associated with ducal Brittany and then France, underlines the building's place at a pivotal moment in Breton history.
Related Figures
Saint Nicolas de Myre — saint patron de la chapelle, protecteur des mariniers et voyageurs, objet d'une dévotion populaire intense dans la vallée du BlavetLes recteurs de Pluméliau (XVIe siècle) — acteurs présumés du financement et de la supervision de la construction de la chapelleArtisans tailleurs de pierre bretons (XVIe siècle) — sculpteurs anonymes des sablières et des ornements gothiques flamboyantsProsper Mérimée — inspecteur général des Monuments Historiques, dont l'action nationale favorisa la reconnaissance des chapelles rurales bretonnes au XIXe siècleÉrudits de la Société Polymathique du Morbihan (XIXe siècle) — chercheurs locaux ayant contribué à l'inventaire et à la valorisation du patrimoine de Pluméliau
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Chapelle Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux located?
Chapelle Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux is located in Pluméliau, Département 56 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Chapelle Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux built?
Chapelle Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Chapelle Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux open to visitors?
Chapelle Saint-Nicolas-des-Eaux is currently closed to visitors.