Ruines de la chapelle de Lannégant
MonumentHidden Treasure
Ruines de la chapelle de Lannégant, located in Lanrivain (Département 22), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Lanrivain, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.3710, -3.1928
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089290
Lost in the moors of Central Brittany, the chapel of Lannégant reveals its Gothic and Renaissance ruins to the silence of the broom - with its mysterious stone monkeys watching over the bell tower-wall.
History
In the heart of the Corlay region, in the commune of Lanrivain, the ruins of the Lannégant chapel are one of the most moving examples of medieval Breton religious architecture. Abandoned since the early 19th century and overgrown, it nonetheless retains a remarkable dignity that captivates visitors from the moment they first set foot on the site. What makes Lannégant absolutely unique is the coexistence of two architectural souls in the same place: a flamboyant 14th-century Gothic style, austere and fervent, and a more fanciful 16th-century Renaissance touch, visible in the sculpted doorway and the fleur-de-lys ornamentation. The gabled windows and ornate fenestration bear witness to a master workshop working simultaneously on the neighbouring church of Magoar, revealing an artistic and geographical coherence that is fascinating for art history enthusiasts. Visiting the ruins is an almost archaeological experience. You walk through the remains of the nave, you can make out the arches that once separated the south side chapel from the main nave, and you look up at the bell tower-wall where the stone monkeys - a singular decorative motif - seem to observe visitors with benevolent irony. The flat chevet still pierces the sky with its Gothic window, a fragment of eternity suspended between two silences. The natural setting amplifies the atmosphere: the surrounding area of Lanrivain, a gently undulating wooded landscape in Central Brittany, offers a rare tranquillity. The chapel can be discovered at the bend of a path, like an apparition, far from the major tourist flows. It's a monument for lovers of authentic heritage, for photographers in search of romantic ruins bathed in low-angled light, and for anyone looking for a glimpse into the heart of Brittany, the land of local lords and itinerant stonemasons' workshops.
Architecture
The chapel at Lannégant has a layout typical of Breton rural chapels in the late Middle Ages: a single nave flanked by a side chapel to the south, from which it is separated by two ogival arches. This arrangement, common in seigneurial foundations, allowed a separate liturgical space - often dedicated to the Virgin or a patron saint - to be set aside for the founding family. The flat chevet, characteristic of Breton Gothic, features a 14th-century window whose infill reveals the mastery of local stonemasons. The south facade, the most richly decorated, features windows with flowered spandrels that are exactly the same as those in the church in Magoar, irrefutable proof of the unity of the workshop. The fleur-de-lys windows are a rare and precious decorative signature, combining royal symbolism and local tradition. The Renaissance doorway, probably dating from the first third of the 16th century, contrasts with the sober Gothic style of the rest of the building: its mouldings and sculpted decorations bear witness to the penetration of new forms from Italy to the confines of Central Brittany. The most unusual feature is the bell tower wall, the gable end of which is decorated with sculpted monkeys - an unusual animal motif in the decorative repertoire of Breton chapels, perhaps a legacy of medieval iconography playing on the theme of grotesque "singeries". The gabled bell tower, which retains a domed circular staircase, is an elegant and original architectural solution for access to the bells, reminiscent of certain lantern towers in the region.
Related Figures
Seigneurs de Golédic — famille noble fondatrice de la chapelle au XIVe siècleAtelier de tailleurs de pierre de Magoar — maîtres d'œuvre des deux édifices au XVIe siècleAcquéreur anonyme de 1810 — acheteur du bien national, acteur involontaire de la ruine
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ruines de la chapelle de Lannégant located?
Ruines de la chapelle de Lannégant is located in Lanrivain, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Ruines de la chapelle de Lannégant built?
Ruines de la chapelle de Lannégant dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Ruines de la chapelle de Lannégant open to visitors?
Ruines de la chapelle de Lannégant is currently closed to visitors.