Chapelle Sainte-Nonne
MonumentHidden Treasure
Chapelle Sainte-Nonne, located in Dirinon (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
- Dirinon, Département 29, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.3978, -4.2686
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089907
Nestling in Dirinon's placître, Sainte-Nonne chapel houses the tomb of the mother of Saint Dewi, patron saint of Wales. A 16th-century Breton jewel with remarkable sculptures.
History
In the heart of Finistère, in the quiet market town of Dirinon, the chapel of Sainte-Nonne stands inside the placître - the vast parish enclosure so characteristic of Brittany - like a stone jewel box preserving a centuries-old Celtic memory. Listed as a historic monument since 1960, it is one of the few Breton shrines dedicated to this saint from across the Channel, whose legend has survived the centuries with astonishing vitality. What immediately sets this building apart is the exceptional quality of its sculpted decoration. The north façade features a window surmounted by a gable festooned with Gothic hooks, flanked by two figures carved in granite with a precision that bears witness to the skills of Breton imagiers of the late Renaissance. The west gable, crowned by a domed bell tower, gives the building an elegant, distinctive silhouette. The interior of the chapel holds a major surprise in store for the attentive visitor: the beams and runners are entirely sculpted, forming a panelled vault whose rich iconography rivals that of the great parish chapels of Finistère. At the back of the nave, the tomb of Sainte-Nonne forms the focal point of this contemplative space, the object of a popular devotion that has never quite died out. The chapel is part of the wider Dirinon parish enclosure, of which it is one of the most precious elements. Around it, the crosses and walls of the placître create a timeless atmosphere, conducive to meditation and aesthetic contemplation. Photographers and heritage enthusiasts will find plenty to explore here, in the golden light of inland Finistère.
Architecture
Sainte-Nonne chapel belongs to the late flamboyant Gothic style typical of Breton religious architecture in the 16th century, with Renaissance influences in certain decorative details. The plan is simple and compact: a single nave, with no aisles, ends in a flat chevet, a common feature of rural chapels in Finistère at the time. The western gable is topped by a domed bell tower, a delicate feature that adds a touch of lightness to the building's silhouette. The façades reveal the particular care taken with the sculpted decoration. The west facade opens with a semi-circular door surmounted by a niche designed to house a statue of the saint. The north facade, which is more richly decorated, has a second door and a window topped by a Gothic gable festooned with hooks - the small leafy motifs that run along the banisters - and cushioned by two sculpted figures, the workmanship of which testifies to the excellence of the local stonemasons working in Kersanton granite or Finistère blue granite. The interior boasts one of its most precious features: the panelled wooden framework, whose main beams and runners are entirely sculpted with plant motifs, figures and narrative scenes. This decorative profusion, typical of Renaissance chapels in Brittany, creates an atmosphere of singular richness. At the back of the nave lies the tomb of Sainte-Nonne, the centrepiece of the furnishings and a focal point of local devotion.
Related Figures
Sainte Nonne (VIe siècle) — mère de saint David, patron du Pays de Galles, dont la chapelle abrite le tombeauSaint David (Dewi Sant, v. 500-589) — fils de Sainte Nonne, patron du Pays de Galles, figure majeure du christianisme celtiqueAnne de Bretagne (1477-1514) — duchesse puis reine de France, grande protectrice des enclos paroissiaux et du patrimoine religieux breton de cette époque
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Chapelle Sainte-Nonne located?
Chapelle Sainte-Nonne is located in Dirinon, Département 29 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Chapelle Sainte-Nonne built?
Chapelle Sainte-Nonne dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Chapelle Sainte-Nonne open to visitors?
Chapelle Sainte-Nonne is currently closed to visitors.