Eglise Saint-Nonna
ChurchHidden Treasure
Eglise Saint-Nonna, located in Penmarch (Département 29), 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
- Penmarch, Département 29, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.8120, -4.3386
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00090151
Joyau du gothique breton, l'église Saint-Nonna de Penmarc'h dresse ses dentelles de kersanton et de granite fin sur la pointe du Finistère, témoignage fastueux de la prospérité des armateurs et pêcheurs de sardines du XVIe siècle.
History
In the heart of the Penmarc'h peninsula, the church of Saint-Nonna stands out as one of the most eloquent expressions of Breton flamboyant Gothic architecture. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, at a time when the Bigouden coast was enjoying spectacular prosperity thanks to the sardine and linen trade, it reflects the ambitions of a merchant community capable of financing a building that rivalled in quality the great enclosed parishes of the Cornouaille region. What makes Saint-Nonna so special is first and foremost its dedication: Nonna, mother of Saint David, patron saint of Wales, is a saint whose cult is deeply rooted in the Celtic memory of Leon and Cornwall. The church dedicates a spiritual presence to her, recalling the age-old links between the shores of Brittany and the island coasts of the British Isles, in the days of the holy navigators. The visit begins with the southern porch, whose sculptures in kersanton - the black stone quarried in Brest harbour - rival the finest examples of Breton sculpture. Inside, the space unfolds into a luminous nave where the mastery of the local granite masons is expressed in every column, arch and rib of the vault. The setting itself adds to the experience: Penmarc'h, a land battered by the Atlantic winds, offers a landscape of moorland and sea horizons around the church that lends an almost melancholy dimension to the visit. Saint-Nonna was listed as a historic monument in 1862, making it one of the first religious buildings in Finistère to benefit from this national recognition.
Architecture
The church of Saint-Nonna belongs fully to the Breton flamboyant Gothic style, characterised by the masterly use of local granite and the occasional use of kersanton for the finest sculptures. The plan adopted is that of a three-vessel hall church, a form common in the wealthy parishes of Cornouaille, where the central nave and side aisles rise to comparable heights, giving the interior an impression of a unified, luminous space. The western façade and the side portals are the highlights of the exterior visit. The archivolts are adorned with curly cabbages, figures of saints and finely chiselled plant motifs in blond granite that glints golden in the Atlantic light. The pinnacled buttresses that punctuate the sides of the building bear witness to the technical mastery of the local masons, trained at the school of the great building sites of Léon and Cornouaille. The gargoyles, depicting fantastic creatures and grimacing figures, add a touch of popular expressivity typical of Breton art of the period. Inside, the round or octagonal piers support pointed arches with carefully profiled ribs. The side chapels, added during successive campaigns in the 16th century, once housed altars for brotherhoods, painted altarpieces and kersanton statues, some of which have survived the centuries. The light, filtered through the flamboyantly infilled windows, bathes the whole place in a subdued glow that contributes to the contemplative atmosphere of the place.
Related Figures
Sainte Nonna — mère de saint David, patronne de l'église, figure du christianisme celtique du Ve siècleGuy Eder de La Fontenelle — chef de bande qui ravagea Penmarc'h en 1595, mettant fin à l'âge d'or de la paroisseProsper Mérimée — inspecteur général des Monuments historiques, dont l'action conduit au classement de l'église dès 1862Les maîtres maçons bigoudens du XVIe siècle — artisans anonymes dont la maîtrise du granite a façonné l'édificeLes recteurs de Penmarc'h — clergé paroissial qui assura la continuité du culte et l'entretien de l'édifice à travers les siècles
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eglise Saint-Nonna located?
Eglise Saint-Nonna is located in Penmarch, Département 29 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Eglise Saint-Nonna built?
Eglise Saint-Nonna dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Eglise Saint-Nonna open to visitors?
Eglise Saint-Nonna is currently closed to visitors.
