Eglise Notre-Dame de Délivrance
ChurchHidden Treasure
Eglise Notre-Dame de Délivrance, located in Le Quillio (Département 22), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Church
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Le Quillio, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.2410, -2.8826
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089553
Nichée au cœur du Kreiz-Breizh, l'église Notre-Dame de Délivrance du Quillio conjugue un porche Renaissance du XVIe siècle et une architecture sobre du XVIIIe, autrefois cœur d'un pèlerinage marial réputé en Bretagne centrale.
History
In the heart of the commune of Le Quillio, in the Côtes-d'Armor department, the church of Notre-Dame de Délivrance stands like a stone sentinel in the middle of a southern cloister, giving it all the solemnity of Breton parish enclosures. Listed as a Monument Historique since 1912 and again in 1986, it illustrates with rare coherence the evolution of rural religious architecture in central Brittany, from the first decades of the Renaissance to the works undertaken on the eve of the Revolution. What distinguishes Notre-Dame de Délivrance from the mass of small rural churches is above all the happy coexistence of two major construction phases: a finely crafted Renaissance-style porch and south facade, contrasting with the classical sobriety of the nave and tower rebuilt in the 18th century. This dialogue between the centuries gives the building an architectural and historical depth that can only be fully appreciated through careful observation. The tour begins with a look at the south porch, whose mouldings and proportions betray the care taken by the craftsmen in the early 16th century. You will then be guided towards the polygonal tower to the west, built in 1751, before entering the choir, completed in 1791, on the very eve of the revolutionary upheavals. Each building campaign can be read in the stone, making the monument particularly valuable for art history enthusiasts. The church is framed on the south side by its "placître", an enclosed space typical of Brittany, which was once the heart of community life during the great pilgrimages. This green and mineral setting, in the unspoilt rural environment of Kreiz-Breizh, offers visitors a rare atmosphere of contemplation and authenticity, far removed from the main tourist routes. Photographers and lovers of confidential heritage will find it a rich subject.
Architecture
The church of Notre-Dame de Délivrance has a classical Latin cross plan, with a polygonal chevet to the east, a sacristy and lean-to, and a bell tower to the west. This plan, which is common in medium-sized Breton parish buildings, allows a clear reading of the liturgical organisation of the space, from the western narthex to the sanctuary. The most remarkable architectural feature is undoubtedly the south porch, attributed to the early 16th century. Its meticulous proportions and Renaissance mouldings link it to the production of the workshops active in central Brittany at that time, which combined the flamboyant Gothic heritage with the first borrowings from Italy via the Loire. The west facade, pierced by a semi-circular door and a bay of the same type, introduces a sober classical vocabulary that is fully expressed in the nave rebuilt in 1733. The polygonal tower, built in 1751, adopts a slender silhouette typical of 18th-century Breton architecture. The whole structure is built using local granite, a material that is ubiquitous in Breton construction, giving the building its characteristic grey tone and resistance to the region's climatic hazards. The churchyard that borders the church to the south completes the ensemble, providing an authentic Breton architectural and landscaping setting.
Related Figures
Maîtres maçons anonymes du Kreiz-Breizh (auteurs du porche Renaissance, début XVIe siècle)Fabriciens et paroissiens de Merleac (commanditaires des reconstructions de 1733 et 1751)Recteur inconnu de la paroisse (superviseur du chantier du chœur de 1791)Prosper Mérimée (inspecteur des Monuments Historiques, dont l'action nationale a préparé les premières protections d'édifices comme celui-ci)Communauté des pèlerins de Notre-Dame de Délivrance (acteurs du rayonnement cultuel de l'église pendant des siècles)
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eglise Notre-Dame de Délivrance located?
Eglise Notre-Dame de Délivrance is located in Le Quillio, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Eglise Notre-Dame de Délivrance built?
Eglise Notre-Dame de Délivrance dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Eglise Notre-Dame de Délivrance open to visitors?
Eglise Notre-Dame de Délivrance is currently closed to visitors.
