And let’s go to the tip of Finistére dept 29 in my lovely Bretagne! The wonders of nature with a nice historical monument in Camaret sur Mer. Let me update this older post for you and me, and hope you enjoy it as I do.
This is the sea at its best and traditions that still holds strong. I ,again, written bits of pieces on it before in my blog but feels deserves more. Therefore, here is my take on the Chapelle Notre Dame de Rocamadour in pretty Camaret sur Mer. The Notre-Dame-de-Rocamadour Chapel is located near the Vauban Tower, on the Sillon.
A bit of history I like
The first Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Rocamadour was built in 1183. The oldest part of the present Chapel dates from 1527. Rocamadour means the rock in the middle of the waters. The Chapel, like the Vauban Tower, is located on a rock connected to the Esplanade Jim Sévellec by the “Sillon. In particular, even difficult to pinpoints its beginnings ,it is mentioned of a Notre Dame of Rocamadour in a brief of Pope Gregory XI, dated 1372 and granting indulgences to the faithful who would contribute to the reconstruction of the monument. Which suggests that before there would have been a chapel. It seems, however, that the construction can be dated, given the inscription on the west gable in abbreviation of use at the time: “the year 1527 was founded the Chapel of Notre-Dame du ROC”. The steeple was beheaded during the battle of Trez-Rouz in 1694, by an Anglo-Dutch canonball. A legend tells us that Notre-Dame-de-Rocamadour took revenge by returning the canonball to the guilty ship, which sank it was probably for this reason that it was never rebuilt. The arms of the Lords of Crozon, successors of the Rohan and represented by the Goulaine family, remained intact despite the decrees of the Convention(tribunal of the French revolution), ordering to stripped them. They are still visible below the clocheton.
The present Chapel of Notre Dame de Rocamadour was built in a Breton Renaissance style from 1610 to 1683, when an arc of discharge was added that isolates the choir and the sacristy.
Inside, all the antique furniture disappeared during the fire of 1910. The chapel was rebuilt in 1911. In the past, the roof was held by beams of the 16C, adorned with dragon heads in wood. The pulpit is from 1914-1915. The statue of the Virgin is modern. The Cross in front of the pulpit is the former cross of the cemetery. Today, you can see ex-votos hanging in the nave. Likewise, a set of old photographs representing the forgiveness and life of Camaret in the early 20C. The Baroque-style high altar is that of the old church of St. Rémi. The Notre Dame pardon of Rocamadour takes place on the first Sunday of September.
A bit on the meaning of this Virgin. Our Lady of Rocamadour (Notre Dame de Rocamadour) is a black Virgin, with her eyes closed and with the child Jesus sitting on her left knee. It is a Virgin maiestas Mariae, with hieratic expression and like absent. The Mother and the Son seem crowned. The Virgin of Rocamadour is linked to the Camino de Santiago de Compostela,(the Way of St James in Spain) which contributed to her devotion in Spain and Portugal, where she is known as Nuestra Senora de Rocamador. On the Breton coast she is revered as the patron Saint of sailors and fishermen.
A nice place to visit all around the Chapel worth the detour into the peninsula of Crozon to reach pretty Camaret sur Mer. Some webpages to help you plan your trip here are:
The city of Camaret sur Mer on things to see/history: https://www.camaret-sur-mer.fr/fr/decouvrir-camaret
The Crozon peninsula tourist office on Camaret sur Mer heritage: https://www.crozon-tourisme.bzh/decouvrir/actualites/camaret-un-quartier-des-artistes-au-bord-des-quais-4725
The private Crozon-Bretagne webpage on the chapel: https://www.crozon-bretagne.com/tourisme/decouverte/camaret/chapelle-notre-dame-de-rocamadour.php
The private presqu’Ïle de Crozon on the Chapel: https://www.presqu-ile-de-crozon.com/camaret-sur-mer/chapelle-de-rocamadour-001.php
Hope you enjoy the sights of pretty Camaret sur Mer, worth a detour to this off the beaten path of the Finistére, Bretagne, France!
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
Leave a Reply