Eglise Saint-Pierre
ChurchHidden Treasure
Eglise Saint-Pierre, located in Saint-Pol-de-Léon (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
- Saint-Pol-de-Léon, Département 29, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.6809, -3.9825
- Mérimée Reference
- PA29000027
Au cœur du vieux Saint-Pol-de-Léon, l'église Saint-Pierre dévoile sept siècles d'histoire bretonne, ses ossuaires Renaissance uniques en Léon et ses vitraux contemporains dans un écrin de pierre dorée.
History
Nestling in one of the most religiously historic towns in North Finistère, Saint-Pierre church in Saint-Pol-de-Léon is a living testimony to Breton popular faith and medieval funerary art. While the cathedral of Saint-Paul-Aurélien and the chapel of Kreisker often captivate visitors, Saint-Pierre has a unique feature that few other buildings in the region can boast: a cemetery with nine 16th and 17th century ossuaries, the remains of an ancestral practice specific to Brittany, where the bones of the deceased were solemnly preserved in low chapels open to the passage of the living. The building combines several construction periods, as can be seen in its masonry: the slender 14th-century Gothic choir sits alongside the robust nave, which was rebuilt in the 18th century to a more sober architectural style, reflecting the classical taste of the time. This chronological stratification, far from detracting from the coherence of the building, gives it a rare visual depth, with each stone telling a fragment of local history. The interior holds a bright surprise in store: the stained glass windows created by Le Bihan in 1974 introduce a colourful palette and a contemporary sensibility that doesn't break with the restrained atmosphere of the ancient vaults. This meeting of medieval art and twentieth-century creation is characteristic of Brittany's relationship with its buildings of worship, which are alive and constantly being reinvented. The cemetery surrounding the church is a heritage site in its own right. The ossuaries, one of which bears the date 1500 and another 1611, are reminiscent of the ancient brotherhood of the Dead, which made Saint-Pierre its seat in 1533. Wandering between these small granite structures is an experience like no other, a silent meditation on the way in which Brittany has always maintained an intimate and peaceful relationship with its dead. The setting for the visit is the historic centre of Saint-Pol-de-Léon, an episcopal town until the French Revolution, where the grey-blue granite streets of Léon invite you to take a stroll. Saint-Pierre church stands out as a discreet but essential monument, which lovers of authentic, unmused heritage will appreciate to the full.
Architecture
The architecture of Saint-Pierre church is a composite whole, the result of several centuries of construction and successive alterations. The choir, built in the last quarter of the 14th century, is of late Breton Gothic style, with its soberly infilled windows and masonry in Léon granite, a characteristic bluish-grey local material par excellence. The south wall of the nave, dating from the first half of the 15th century, retains some elements from this early campaign. The nave as we see it today is mainly the result of the 18th-century reconstruction carried out by Nicolas Saffray, who adopted a classical massing plan with balanced proportions, less ornamental than the flamboyant Gothic style but with a strong functional solidity. The interior is lit by contemporary stained glass windows by Le Bihan (1974), whose warm colours warm the grey stone of the walls. The roof structure, rebuilt in 1875-1876, bears witness to the skills of 19th-century Breton carpenters, who were used to working under steeply pitched roofs adapted to the frequent rainfall on the Atlantic coast. The parish cemetery is the most distinctive architectural feature of the site. The nine preserved ossuaries, built between 1500 and 1611, are in the form of small open granite arches, sometimes topped by bell-towers or sculpted crosses, in a style typical of Lower-Brittany parish enclosures. The caretaker's house, built by the architect Puyo between 1875 and 1878, closes the entrance to the cemetery in an orderly fashion, in a sober style in keeping with the conventions of Breton civil architecture at the end of the 19th century.
Related Figures
Nicolas Saffray — entrepreneur des travaux du Roi, maître d'œuvre de la reconstruction de l'église au XVIIIe siècleArchitecte Puyo — concepteur de la maison de gardien du cimetière (1875-1878)Le Bihan — verrier ayant réalisé les vitraux contemporains de l'église en 1974Membres de la confrérie des Trépassés — artisans de la vie religieuse et funéraire de la paroisse de 1533 à la fin du XVIIe siècleSaint Paul Aurélien — évangélisateur du Léon au VIe siècle, figure tutélaire de toute la vie religieuse de Saint-Pol-de-Léon
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eglise Saint-Pierre located?
Eglise Saint-Pierre is located in Saint-Pol-de-Léon, Département 29 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.
