Paris1972-Versailles2003

So here we are moving right along in my beautiful Morbihan dept 56 in my lovely Bretagne and my belle France. Let me show you about my nearby neighbor Locmariaquer. Hope you enjoy it as I do

I like to tell you a bit more with new text and photos on the Church Notre-Dame de Kerdro , a Roman style church built in the 11-12C. . Kerdro is Breton language meaning in French ” Bon Voyage et Bon Retour” or in English means have a good trip and safe return.

The Church Notre-Dame-de-Kerdro was built between 1082 and 1120 by the monks of Quimperlé, the transept and the choir are the surviving elements. It was altered in the 17-18C with the construction of the nave, and the modification of the Romanesque parts. The bell tower was built in 1817, and the doors were built in 1835.

The Church Notre-Dame-Kerdro is in the form of a Latin cross, the cross of which bears a square tower done in 1817; topped with a frame and slate bell tower. The bell tower, placed on the ridge of the roof at the level of the crossing of the false transept, has a square structure, its roof is composed of a polygonal base surmounted by a sharp spire. The roof of the building has a double slope. The side walls are pierced with windows. Four buttresses support the Romanesque apse. The exterior walls of the Romanesque part such as the choir and transept, mounted in a small archaic structure with a cubic rubble, scattered bricks and rows of re-used Roman bricks, are older 11C than the interior structure.

The Church Notre-Dame-de-Kerdro is covered with a frame. It consists of a nave with three aisles 18C, separated by semicircular arches supported by square piers, a Romanesque transept and choir 11-12C. It is covered with a wooden ceiling. The choir of two bays separated by a double arch falling on engaged columns with carved capitals is barrel vaulted. It ends in a dead end.

The holy water font included in the wall near the entrance dates from the 15C. It is decorated with foliage and grapes . Each of the two braces has an altarpiece surmounted by a painting, dating from the 17C. The painting on the Cross represents the Annunciation, that of the other Cross the Visitation. The twelve windows of the church are fitted with contemporary stained glass, produced in 1960.   The five stained glass windows of the choir represent images linked to the region: boat and fish for fishing, ears of wheat for agriculture, the letters NDK for Notre-Dame- de-Kerdro, bouquet of tiles for oyster farming, dolmen and menhirs for the megaliths.

A bit of older history goes like in 1082, Harscoet and Teuthael, along with all members of their family, donated to the Abbey Church Sainte-Croix de Quimperlé (see post)  “all that belonged to them from the offerings made at the altar, with a third of the tithes of wheat and other things owed to the church, and this for the salvation of their souls and those of their parents “, in the presence of   Duke Hoël II of Brittany, in the Auray castrum. There was already a first sanctuary, dating back to 856 of which Erispoë, king of Brittany, donated the land of Kaër to the monks of Saint-Sauveur de Redon to establish a priory there that was ravaged by the Normans during the 10C.

From the end of the 11C, the monks of Quimperlé then undertook the construction of a new Romanesque church serving as both priory and parish. In 1120, the works of the Romanesque church were completed. The bell tower, placed on the ridge of the roof at the level of the crossing of the false transept, has a square structure, its roof is composed of a polygonal base surmounted by a sharp spire. The roof of the building has a double slope. The side walls are pierced with windows.

Locmariaquer webpage on the history of the Church Notre Dame de Kerdro in French: http://locmariaquer.info/f58-E-NDKERDRO2.htm

Private site on the Church Notre Dame de Kerdro in French: http://locker56740.free.fr/nd_de_kerdro.htm

The city of Locmariaquer on the religious heritage such as the Church Notre Dame de Kerdro: http://www.locmariaquer.fr/patrimoine-religieux-page-74-rub-2.html

The tourist office of the Bay of Quiberon on Locmariaquer : https://www.baiedequiberon.bzh/locmariaquer

This is a wonderful church right facing the port of Locmariaquer,(see post) the walks the ambiance of the neighborhood and places to eat and cruises makes it worth the detour. Hope you enjoy as we do the Church Notre Dame de Kerdro.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!

Well back to my playground and the city I work for the last 9 years! I have of course several posts on its wonderful history architecture and beautiful monuments. However, the oldest Church in town deserves more. Even if my bad luck each time by it is closed! I will describe it anyway as I have the history book of Vannes and this church.

Sure done posts but this is new text and photos and I will like to tell you a bit more of a wonderful neighborhood we love and the Church of Saint Patern of Vannes. Bien sûr in the Morbihan dept 56 of my lovely Bretagne!

The Church Saint-Patern , located in the district of the same name, is dedicated to Saint Patern, the first bishop of Vannes in the 5C. The church is located at the corner of the rue de la Fontaine and the rue Saint-Patern. It replaces an old 10C church which housed the relics of Saint Patern, first bishop of the bishopric of Vannes and one of the seven founding saints of Bretagne/Brittany. The Latin cross church was replaced in the 11C by a Romanesque church which saw its tower collapse in 1721 and the rest of the church 5 years later. The current church was built from 1727 to 1772 (the nave) and 1826 (the tower). The stained glass windows in the choir from 1737 were replaced in 1882 and then in 1918. The stained glass window on the north door, “Christ surrounded by eight children”, is from 1923.

You can admire 6 altarpieces, including the altarpiece of the Sainte-Parenté (north transept) and that of Saint-Isidore (south transept) which date from the 18C. The altarpiece of the Resurrection of Christ, at the back of the choir, enlarged in 1925, dates from 1744. The pulpit is from 1813. The last restoration of 2006 and 2007 consolidated the church, brought stalls from the 17C, and enhanced the statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague.

The Church of Saint Patern becomes in the Middle Ages a stage of the Tro-Breiz (tour of Brittany), or pilgrimage to the seven founding saints of Brittany. The church, ruined by two successive storms causing the collapse of the bell tower located at the crossing of the transept, was rebuilt in 1727. Between 1769 and 1777, the nave was extended by two additional spans and the construction of the bell tower planned on two floors. The latter was completed in 1825-1826. It is a church with a blind central aisle and side aisles that open onto non-communicating chapels. In the shape of a Latin cross and with a flat apse, a two-sided roof increased to the west by the bell tower caps the whole. To the east, the church is extended by a two-story central sacristy.

The restoration of the Church of Saint Patern between 2006 and 2008 restored the church to its 18-19C volumes by removing the untimely additions from the beginning of the 20C. The interest of the church rests not only on its stylistic homogeneity found thanks to its restoration but also on its severe style known as “style of the engineers”, noticeable in particular at the level of the openings and the rarity of the decoration.  Inside the church, the restored altarpieces, paintings and sculptures as well as the stained glass windows give the whole a character of elegant purity.

We know how, tired of the contradictions he encountered, Saint Patern abandoned his diocese and retired to the interior of Gaul or to the Franks, where he died and was buried, around the year 480, and how also, by a great and long drought, the sky itself took charge of recalling it later to the memories of Vannes. Recognizing in this scourge a punishment inflicted on their ingratitude, they went to his tomb, not only to make amends and ask for rain through his intercession, but also with the pious purpose of transporting his body to his Episcopal city. They were able to open the tomb; but the removal of the coffin resisted all their efforts, when the rich owner, who was part of the pilgrimage, publicly promised to donate his land and to build there at his expense a chapel for the burial of the Saint. Immediately, the body could be removed and the rain was not long in falling. Hence; the religious custom, which still exists, of asking for rain through the intersection of Saint Patern. The chapel was built and housed the glorious tomb until the end of the 9C or the beginning of the 10C, when Daoc, abbot of Saint-Gildas de Rhuys, transported the body of the holy bishop, with those of Saint Gildas and of Saint Patrice, in Bourg-Déols, in the Berri, and where, like the other religious monuments. The new building was much superior to the first in its size and architectural character. Raised to the rank of parish church it was surrounded by a cloister which did not collapse until the last years of the 14C, and received, until the middle of the 15C, the visits of the many pilgrims of Tro-Breiz.

In 1727, in order to note its state of ruin and the need to raze it and replace it with a new construction. It appears that these reconstructions had absorbed more than the resources available at the time; because the church was not entirely finished, and it is necessary to cross many years and arrive at 1769 so that it is question of completing the nave and of building a tower, no longer on the transept, like the old one, but at the bottom of the nave. The first stone of this new tower was laid in 1770, at the bottom of the old nave. The works were carried out for 1775 the tower which was not completed until 1826. Among the objects forming the treasure of this church, the archives mention, in 1662 and 1793, a silver chief of Saint Patern and containing some pieces of his relics. There were also, in their custodies, two silver images of Saint Patern and of Saint Mary Magdalene, given, at the end of the 16C.

The official parish of Saint Patern: http://www.stpatern-vannes.fr/

The city of Vannes on the Church Saint Patern: https://www.mairie-vannes.fr/vannesdecouverte/histoire-et-patrimoine/qr-patrimoine/eglise-saint-patern-en-detail/

And there you go , I feel now given you the whole story on this wonderful old Church of Saint Patern. Which of course ,I will be back lots of things to see inside. Hope you enjoy the architectural and historical presentation that I like as well.

And remember, happy travels, good health ,and many cheers to all!!!