Let me bring back some memories of my work. A while back, hard to remember dates, a collegue working in my dept told me he was from Elven? huh? He show me the map and told me there was nice things to see and a very good restaurant. Needless to say we as a family went and true to local knowledge it was nice. Let me tell you a bit more on little Elven, big heritage!!!
You have a beautiful simple Church of Saint-Alban, rebuilt in the 17C and again in the 19C, it still hold the roman choir of the original Church, see the mechanical clock and replica in wood of the Church. The Church of Saint-Alban, is dedicated to Alban de Verulamium, patron of Elven, referring to the martyrdom suffered by him in England in 303 while the founders of the city come from the other side of the channel, the patron Saint of the city. The Normans destroyed by fire the first wooden church. In 1121, a Romanesque church was rebuilt, again destroyed by a fire in 1525. A church of Gothic style was elevated, of which only today the Romanesque Choir remains. In 1536 is built a neo-Gothic nave and then, in 1642, a bell tower. In the 19C, the work suffering from the time was renovated, the nave and the transept were rebuilt. The bell tower is completed in 1877 and the Church will be consecrated in 1879.
The new modern Church of Saint Alban having kept the apse of the old building. Inside, very ornate sandpits with leaves and figures. Two floors of sculptures in high reliefs separated by a moulding. On the lower floor, chimeras supporting ecus; foliage with human heads; garlands of foliage and fruit; birds. On the upper floor, and advancing like on a balcony, curly hair Angels seen from the front and half-body, holding unarmoured ecus; various characters, half-body, in Renaissance costumes, in various attitudes, forming as a gallery of French Renaissance portraits. The Church of St. Alban, rebuilt in the 17C and 19C.
The city of Elven on its heritage with the above church: https://www.elven.bzh/patrimoine-religieux/
And voilà, wanted to update this one as carries memorable moments for me that just wanted to keep those memories. Hope you enjoy it. Oh by the way Elven is on the road N166 coming from Rennes so if heading for the beaches of Morbihan, direction Vannes or Lorient ,this should be an excellent rest stop. Hope you enjoy it as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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