Chapelle Sainte-Marie
MonumentHidden Treasure
Chapelle Sainte-Marie, located in Plomodiern (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
- Plomodiern, Département 29, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.2028, -4.2349
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00090196
Au cœur du Finistère, la chapelle Sainte-Marie de Plomodiern dévoile un clocher à dômes superposés du XVIIe siècle et une extraordinaire charpente sculptée, joyau discret de l'architecture bretonne Renaissance.
History
Nestling in the hedged farmland of south Finistère, between the Black Mountains and the Bay of Douarnenez, the chapel of Sainte-Marie de Plomodiern is one of those Breton rural sanctuaries that conceal an astonishing wealth of ornament behind a sober façade. Far from the crowds that flock to the great Gothic cathedrals, it is an invitation to a more intimate, almost confidential contemplation, where each stone tells the story of several centuries of popular faith and craftsmanship. The first thing that strikes visitors is the unusual silhouette of the bell tower, crowned with superimposed domes characteristic of 17th-century Breton Baroque. This rare and elegant shape contrasts with the sober grey granite of the walls, giving the building an instantly recognisable architectural personality. At its foot, the Calvary, dated 1544, was already a devotional site long before the building was completed as we know it today. The interior is full of surprises: the main nave is enlarged by two side aisles added in the second half of the 16th century, creating a generous, light-filled space. The framework of the pointed barrel vault is remarkably sculpted - interlacing, plant motifs and popular figures interact in an exuberance typical of Breton Renaissance workshops. The triple-arched triumphal arch, dated 1730, closes the nave with a sober majesty that harmoniously tempers the decorative effusion of previous centuries. For photographers, the late afternoon light bathing the western façade offers some striking shots, where the granite takes on unexpected golden hues. For history buffs, the clear superimposition of construction campaigns - from the Calvary of 1544 to the remodelling of 1730 - makes this monument a veritable stone book on two centuries of Marian devotion in Brittany.
Architecture
Sainte-Marie chapel has an elongated Latin cross floor plan, with two side aisles added to the main nave to give it a floor plan close to that of a three-vessel basilica. The entire structure is built in Kersanton granite and local stone, in accordance with the construction practices of the Finistère workshops of the Renaissance. The sober, massive west facade features a semi-circular doorway with discreet sculpted decoration, typical of the late flamboyant Gothic style still in use in the Breton countryside in the mid-16th century. The exterior showpiece is undoubtedly the bell tower with its superimposed domes, built in 1663. This vertical composition of two lanterns crowned with stacked bulbs is reminiscent of the "imperial" bell towers produced by Breton master masons in the 17th century, under the combined influence of the Jesuit Baroque and Iberian towers. The balance between the mass of the granite walls and the apparent lightness of the sculpted domes gives the building an unusual elegance in this rural landscape. Inside, the barrel-vaulted roof structure is the highlight of the decorative programme. Carved with interlaced motifs, foliage and human and animal figures, it bears witness to the virtuosity of Breton carpenters and sculptors of the Renaissance, heirs to a long tradition of woodwork. The triple-arched triumphal arch dating from 1730, which separates the nave from the choir, adds a classical touch with its engaged columns, moulded entablatures and rhythmic clerestory, crowning two centuries of successive interventions.
Related Figures
Maîtres maçons bretons anonymes du XVIe siècle, auteurs des collatéraux de 1574 et 1591Sculpteurs de la confrérie locale ayant réalisé le calvaire de 1544Architecte ou maître d'œuvre anonyme du clocher à dômes (1663)Commanditaires paroissiaux du XVIIIe siècle ayant financé l'arc de triomphe (1730)Paul Léon, directeur des Beaux-Arts, sous l'autorité duquel fut signé le classement MH en 1916
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Chapelle Sainte-Marie located?
Chapelle Sainte-Marie is located in Plomodiern, Département 29 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Chapelle Sainte-Marie built?
Chapelle Sainte-Marie dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Chapelle Sainte-Marie open to visitors?
Chapelle Sainte-Marie is currently closed to visitors.
