Eglise Saint-Jacques
ChurchHidden Treasure
Eglise Saint-Jacques, located in Perros-Guirec (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
- Perros-Guirec, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.8143, -3.4431
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089383
A 12th-century Breton Romanesque gem, the church of Saint-Jacques in Perros-Guirec dazzles with its historiated capitals recounting the Arthurian legend and its exceptionally fine sculpted porch.
History
Standing in the heart of Perros-Guirec, Saint-Jacques church is one of the most precious examples of Romanesque architecture in Brittany. Built of pink granite from the Armorican coast in the 12th century, it is immediately striking for its mineral sobriety and the density of its sculptural programme, two qualities rarely combined with such coherence on the Breton peninsula. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1901, it embodies the meeting of medieval faith and Celtic memory.
Architecture
The architecture of Saint-Jacques church has two perfectly legible layers: the Romanesque base from the 12th century and the Gothic crown from the 15th century form a happy dialogue that is visually unified by the local pink granite. The layout follows the classic pattern of a single nave flanked by aisles, extended by a Gothic choir with a flat chevet, typical of late Breton reconstructions. The whole, relatively modest in size, gains in intensity what it loses in grandeur. The Romanesque porch is the exterior centrepiece: its sculpted voussoirs display a decorative repertoire combining interlacing, plant motifs and figures in bas-relief, testifying to a local workshop with a remarkable technical level for a church of this modest size. Inside, the historiated capitals in the nave are of exceptional interest: each basket recounts a narrative episode, including the legendary scene of the Arthurian fight against the dragon of Roch Hirglas, unique in known Romanesque statuary. The transition to the Gothic style can be seen in the high windows in the chevet, which are wider and adorned with simple mullions, casting a soft light over the altar.
Related Figures
Saint Jacques le Majeur — patron de l'église et figure tutélaire des pèlerinages compostelansSaint Eflam — ermite breton dont la légende est gravée dans les chapiteaux romansRoi Arthur — héros légendaire représenté en combat contre le dragon de Roch Hirglas dans les sculpturesBâtisseurs anonymes du XIIe siècle — artisans du Trégor auteurs des chapiteaux historiésArchitectes des Monuments Historiques (XIXe-XXe s.) — restaurateurs qui ont préservé l'édifice
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eglise Saint-Jacques located?
Eglise Saint-Jacques is located in Perros-Guirec, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Eglise Saint-Jacques built?
Eglise Saint-Jacques dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Eglise Saint-Jacques open to visitors?
Eglise Saint-Jacques is currently closed to visitors.
