Paris1972-Versailles2003

So Sunday is usually the day of travel with the boys, and this was no different. I look up all photos and realise not been back here in a few years with only 1h05 from home and one of my dear late wife Martine favorite. More on next posts.

In passing taking a new route from the N24 highway to the D8 we came upon a new town , rather village and a nice big church that even if passing made me think to come back for more. Therefore, let me give you a primer on the town of Ruffiac and its Church of St Peter and St Paul.

The town of Ruffiac is located in the Morbihan department 56, in the region of Bretagne. It is a town in the canton of Malestroit; and on the Malestroit-Guer and Ploërmel-Redon highways corridor. This territory is limited by the towns of Caro,by Missiriac and Saint-Laurent, by Saint-Martin, by Saint-Nicolas and Tréal. It is 45 km from Vannes.

In the 9C, the territory of Ruffiac largely depends on the Abbey of Saint-Sauveur in Redon. This territory was devastated by the Normans in the 10C. From 830, the cartulary of the abbey of Redon, mentions the parish church of Ruffiac. In the 11C, the monks of the abbey of Redon founded the priory of Notre-Dame-de-Pitié.

The Church Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul b.1920-1921. A primitive church is mentioned from 830 in Ruffiac, rebuilt in the 12C, enlarged in the 16C, restored in the 18C and in the 19C. The new church was rebuilt in 1920. Of the Romanesque construction, there remains a semicircular portal, decorated with small columns with simple capitals, a small window very splayed in the wall of the nave, and flat buttresses not protruding. The triumphal arch which separates the choir from the nave, is from the 15C. All the rest of the building has been redone in modern times. In 1956, the old bell tower built in 1920 was knocked down. On a stained glass window are represented the arms of the families of La Bourdonnaye and La Rués. The liturgical ornaments, offered by the Marquis de La Bourdonnaye, date from 1751.

The parish church of Ruffiac is under the invocation of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The current church contains some remains of an old construction; thus, at the nave, there is a small very narrow Romanesque window; a semi-circular portal with three retreats, with small columns with simple capitals. A later period is the large ogival arcade, resting on simple cutters, between the choir and the nave, as well as a window accosted by the carved escutcheons of the Bourdonnaye and the Rués families.

The city of Ruffiac on its heritage, do not know why does not list the church! http://www.ruffiac.fr/accueil_ruffiac/decouvrir_ruffiac/plan_dacces

In all, one of the highlights of my road warrior incursions into the Breton territory is that each time you find something to make you come back for more and this is the case of Ruffiac and its surrounding. Hope you enjoy the primer as I did.

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