I like to update this post from 2019, a bit recent but special for my road warrior trips in my lovely Bretagne of my belle France! And on the road, we passed by several towns perhaps too small to stop or in a rush only to come back later if we feels warranted. I like to give this post a new light with some of the nice architecture in monumental churches of the Finistére dept 29! Hope you enjoy the ride!
These are churches that I have encountered driving around the Finistére dept 29 always with another destination in mind, but lovely monuments the same. You might be there first or might give me the impetus to go and see them more up close and personal. Therefore, let me tell you briefly about these wonderful monument of our lives each unique in its own right. This is the story on the other churches of Finistére dept 29 in the towns of Anzano, La Faou, La Forêt-Fouesnant, Landudec, Plobannalec, Plouhinec (not to be confuse with same name in my Morbihan dept 56), and Trégunc. I hope you will enjoy this brief introduction to them.
The Church of Saint Pierre (Peter) of the Links in Arzano was built in 1641 in the form of a Latin cross, without a side. It replaces another very ancient of the 11-12C and is the subject of important restorations and transformations in 1744 as evidenced by an inscription on the east gable, above the bull-eye that illuminates the high Altar. The bell tower was erected in 1778. It is an octagonal tower, capped in 1896 with a trunnion dome with a gallery in the east and west. On the façade there is a niche that housed a wooden statue of St. Peter. The bell tower has a small bell from 1704 and a larger one, installed in 1883 after construction of the interior structure still visible today. The placates hosts a granite stele of the iron age (-800 to-700 BC) as well as a Pietà installed on the base, dated from 1761, of a single granite cross. The church now houses several wooden statues from the 15C to the 18C, a high Altar from the end of the 17C, and six stained glass windows from 1891. Webpage parishes of Quimperlé on Arzano: https://www.paroissesquimperle.fr/%C3%A9glises-chapelles/arzano/
The Church of Saint-Sauveur at Le Faou. The Church was founded by the Hospitaliers of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem; and was rebuilt in 1544 and 1680, at the end of the Renaissance with a dome bell tower facing the port. Its short nave contrasts with a large double transept. The steeple, very high, dates from 1629, the porch bears the date of 1593 and 1613 and has preserved its wooden statues of the twelve apostles, the bedside in Beaumanoir style dates from 1680. The high Altar and the two confessionals date from the 17C as well as the baptismal font, the baptismal font with snakes is unique in Brittany by the richness of its sculpture. Many statues decorates the Church including those of our Lady of Mercy, two Virgin mothers, Saint Herbot, Saint Yves, Saint Éloi, St. Barbe, etc. The church is in much decay and there is an effort by the Heritage Foundation to raise funds to save it, slow due to the virus the renovation has begun again: More info here: https://www.fondation-patrimoine.org/les-projets/l-eglise-saint-sauveur-au-faou
A bit more on Le Faou with the city page on tourism in French: https://www.lefaou.bzh/en/move-well/tourism-infos
The Church of Notre Dame d’Izel-Vor (also known as Our Lady of Low Sea from the Breton) is the parish church of La Forêt-Fouesnant. This church built largely during the 1st half of the 16C is dedicated to Notre-Dame d’Izel-Vor .It is of a typical Gothic style in the Cornouaille. The dates carved on the walls are found: 1538 under the porch, 1628 above the Baptistery. The interior of the Church is remarkable for the richness of its furnishings: the baptismal font in granite and wood, the painting of the Rosary, the high altar and its altarpiece, which are from the 17C. Polychrome statues of local Saints complement the décor. Its 15C Calvary was used as a pulpit to preach the days of heavy attendance; which assumes that the parvis was much more extensive than today. The city of La Forêt-Fouesnant on the church: https://www.foret-fouesnant-tourisme.com/notre-destination/a-decouvrir/eglise-dame-izel-vor/
The Church of Sainte-Anne-et-Saint-Tudec, at Landudec of neo-Gothic style, rebuilt in 1904, contains only a limited number of vestiges of the old building (porch and bell tower) as well as some interior ornaments, including an Altarpiece of the Rosary of 1701, an Altarpiece of Sainte-Anne, a Pietà, a polychrome statue of Saint Tudec and a high Altar adorned with a remarkable last supper. The church was completely restored from 2002 to 2004. The city of Landudec on the church and its heritage: https://www.landudec.fr/decouvrir-la-commune/
The parish Church of St. Marc at Trégunc construction begins in 1865 the Church is consecrated in 1867. Thereafter, a number of additional works is carried out. The cemetery that juxtaposed the Church is transferred to route de Pont-Aven. The octagonal sacristy is destroyed, and the presbytery gardens are purchased by the City/Town Hall in 1960 to build a new one. The construction follows a perfectly symmetrical Latin cross plane of three naves on an east-west direction. The Church of St. Marc comprises a nave of five bays, with the transept and chorus, the ensemble reaches the length of 60 meters. The bedside is composed of two sacristies, north and south side. Inside, the floor is covered with granite slabs. The tourist office of Concarneau-Pont Aven on Trégunc and its heritage: https://www.deconcarneauapontaven.com/visites/visites-guidees/pierre-et-legende/
The Church of Saint-Winoc at Plouhinec from the 16-18C, revamped during the 18C, the Church seems to be built on the site of an older church. It is shaped like a Latin cross and dominated by a gallery tower that overlooks an arrow. The tower is on the south face, dates and inscriptions that give the stages of its construction. The church consists of a nave, five bays with aisle and a paneled frame, then two bays with lateral chapels, a transept and a choir. Flanked by aisles, the Church is bounded by seven arched arches, resting on octagonal pillars without capitals. The stained glass windows of the transept and the collateral were laid in 1993-1994. The high Altar dates from the 18C, it has an altarpiece with four torsos, superimposed on three floors, the Tabernacle is in dais and the altar is framed by two adorers angels, surmounted by four cherubs. At the top of the Altarpiece there is a statue of the Sacred Heart of the 19C. In the niches of the Altar you see Christ, surrounded by St. Peter and St. Paul; to the left of the Altarpiece is the statue of Saint Winoc; to the right of the Altarpiece, you see Notre-Dame de Lorette. In the north transept, there is an Altar from the 18C and several statues frame the altar with the Angel Gabriel, the Virgin of the Annunciation, the Group of Saint Joseph and Jesus Child, the Group of Saint Anne and Mary Child. There is also an 18C Pièta and the reliquary of Saint Winoc. The Altar of the south transept is also from the 18C, and it is topped by a table dated 1652, representing the pain of the Father, with Madeleine. Several statues frame the Altar are St. Roch, St. Blaise, St. Nicholas, St. Sebastian, Christ with links 15C. The pulpit to preach is from the 18C. The organ, which dates from 1935, has eight games. The baptismal font dates from the 16C. The Altar with torsos column altarpiece is from the 18C. At the south altarpiece is a canvas titled “God of Mercy” which dates from 1652. The Church houses the statues of Saint Winoc 17C, the Virgin Mother 17C, Saint Anne, St. Roch, St. Sebastian, St. Augustine, St. Nicholas, Saint Blaise, Saint John the Baptist , a man of Sorrow , an unidentified Saint and a Pietà.
Not much in the town of Plouhinec on the church just briefly as part of the history: https://www.plouhinec.bzh/decouvrir-commune/tourisme
A bit more on the heritage museums of Bretagne on the church: https://museedupatrimoine.fr/eglise-saint-winoc-de-plouhinec-finistere/25967.html
An interesting history worth telling you here on Plouhinec.
The Spanish Civil War causes the exile of very many Spaniards in two waves. The first begins shortly after the bombing of the town of Guernica (April 26, 1937); it will bring between 120,000 and 140,000 refugees in France in 6 months. The second wave, which occurred in February 1939, is known in Spanish history as the Retirada (Retreat). Between 450,000 and 500,000 Spaniards enter France in a fortnight. Although geographically far from Spain, Finistère will be a land of asylum or exile for many of these Spanish refugees. In 1937, around 2,200 civilians and 500 combatants arrived. In 1939, 3,700 refugees, overwhelmingly civilians, arrived in a week, between February 1 and 8. In this exile from Finistère, Plouhinec played an exceptional role by being the Finistère center with the highest number of refugees. In all, there are estimates of 3,5 million Spanish descend persons in France nowdays. More on the story of Plouhinec from the town’s webpage in French: https://www.plouhinec.bzh/decouvrir-commune/histoire-0
There you go a huge inventory ready to be seen again up close and personal. For now just a showcase of the wonders we have in wonderful Finistére of my lovely Bretagne. Hope you enjoy this bit of architectural and historical brief.
And remember, happy travels , good health, and many cheers to all !!!
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