Eglise Saint-Pierre
ChurchHidden Treasure
Eglise Saint-Pierre, located in Mauron (Département 56), 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
- Mauron, Département 56, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.0816, -2.2849
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00091434
In Mauron, in inland Brittany, Saint-Pierre church boasts an exceptional Renaissance portal dating from 1525-1580, with sculpted geminated doors and ornate voussoirs, a true masterpiece of Breton statuary.
History
Nestling in the heart of Mauron, a small town in the Morbihan region with a long medieval history, Saint-Pierre church stands out above all for its Renaissance portal of rare sculptural quality. Listed as a Monument Historique since 1925, it is a wonderful example of the artistic vitality of inland Brittany at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, a time when local patrons vied with each other to equip their religious buildings with ornaments worthy of the great cities. What makes Saint-Pierre truly unique is the portal with its geminated doors, every detail of which reveals the hand of a sculptor with a perfect mastery of the Renaissance repertoire: archways filled with foliage and floral motifs, a mullioned column topped by a finely openwork canopied niche, and side niches designed to house statues of saints. On the tympanum, an inscription - which mentions the year 1525 or 1580 depending on the reading - engraves the sculptor's name in stone, a rare and proud gesture that testifies to a new artistic awareness at the time. Crossing the threshold of this church means crossing the centuries through the successive layers of its furnishings and decor. The sacristy boasts some remarkable Louis XIII woodwork, with sober, elegant panelling and woodwork that evoke the rigour of the early 17th century. These elements make the building a rare synthesis of Breton decorative arts over more than a century. The setting for your visit is that of an authentic Breton village, away from the main tourist routes, which gives the discovery of Saint-Pierre a flavour of exploration and privilege. Lovers of sculptural heritage, photographers in search of subtle architectural details and local history buffs will find plenty to linger over, away from the crowds.
Architecture
Saint-Pierre de Mauron church is a sober example of traditional Breton architecture, inherited from the 16th-century rebuilds, and built of local granite in accordance with the common practice in inland Morbihan. The layout is that of a classical parish church, with a central nave, aisles and an oriented chancel, with no monumental pretensions but with a fine overall coherence. The dominant and remarkable architectural feature is undoubtedly the western portal, which came from the old church and was reused during the reconstruction work. This portal, with its geminated doors separated by a mullioned column ending in a niche with a sculpted canopy, features a rich Renaissance decorative programme: semi-circular arches decorated with plant and geometric motifs, lateral niches supported on brackets and designed to house statues, and a tympanum bearing a historical inscription mentioning the date it was made and the name of the sculptor. The ensemble reveals a certain technical mastery and a knowledge of the models disseminated by workshops in the Loire and Paris. Inside, the sacristy contains remarkably intact Louis XIII woodwork, with its characteristic geometric panels, sober mouldings and the quality of its dark wood with a patina of age. This woodwork is a rare example of Breton cabinet-making in the early 17th century, which is not usually found in rural buildings in the département.
Related Figures
Sculpteur anonyme du portail (XVIe siècle) — artisan breton dont le nom figure sur le tympan, rare exemple de signature dans l'art religieux régional de la RenaissanceCurés de la paroisse de Mauron (XVIe-XVIIe siècles) — commanditaires probables des embellissements successifs de l'édificeNotables mauronnais du XVIIe siècle — donateurs vraisemblables des menuiseries Louis XIII de la sacristieInspecteurs des Monuments Historiques (début XXe siècle) — auteurs du dossier ayant conduit à l'inscription de 1925
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eglise Saint-Pierre located?
Eglise Saint-Pierre is located in Mauron, Département 56 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Eglise Saint-Pierre built?
Eglise Saint-Pierre dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Eglise Saint-Pierre open to visitors?
Eglise Saint-Pierre is currently closed to visitors.