And of course ,what else? I continue on updating my older posts. I find it amazing the changes in links and directions to be updated and at the same time bring me great pleasure in reviving these wonderful memorable moment in family trips. Today , I take you to the Crozon peninsula and ist wonderful St Peter’s Church. Hope you enjoy it as I. Again, really, thanks for following me all these years since 2010!
There are many things to see in my lovely Bretagne, and we have been to many and there are many more to be seen. However, the coastal region is sublime and always a welcome to visit any time. We love it and will tell you a bit more so you one day can see it and love it too ok. Let me tell you a bit about the Crozon peninsula and its main city Crozon as well as some of the things to see here. Enjoy it!
We drove all the way on the D791 and D887 from the expressway N165 very easy with good signs. Here you see the wonderful cliffs at the different points such as Pointe de Pen Hir. One of the most beautiful scenery seen by me here so far can be done from the Pointe de Pen Hir, extending at sea by the Tas de Pois. From this point you can see the Pointe du Raz (see post) to the Pointe Saint Mathieu , and on nice clear days we can see the islands of Sein, Ouessant and Molène. It is here that at liberation day from WWII, a huge hill was chosen to built a cross of Lorraine in granite dedicated to the Bretons who fought for a Free France. Général De Gaulle came here to opened the tower on July 15 , 1951. This was part of the Atlantic wall of WWII and those who fought it are well remembered here.
Crozon is a town of Finistère dept 29 of my lovely Bretagne. It is located in the center of the Crozon peninsula, the town occupies the largest part of the peninsula. Among them, the seaside resort of Morgat , in the south, offers a nautical center and Le Fret , in the north, a small port overlooking the harbor of Brest. The Bay of Morgat is limited by Crozon to the east and the Pointe de Kador to the west. It once housed the sardine and tuna port of Morgat; with the depletion of fishery resources, the fishing port has become a recreational marina port. The town of Crozon is adjacent to those of Camaret-sur-Mer (see posts) in the west, from Roscanvel to the north-west, from Lanvéoc to the north, from Argol and Telgruc-sur-Mer to the east.
A bit of history I like
The megalithic alignments of Lostmarc’h and Ty-ar-C’huré or House of the Priest prove a settlement from prehistoric times. Two bronze statuettes representing one horse, the other a cow, probably of Gallo-Roman origin, were found in 1931 in Saint-Fiacre. A Roman road from Vorganium passed through the Chapel of Lospars in Châteaulin, Dinéault, less than 3 km south of Argol, Crozon and the Causeway of the Anse du Kerloc’h to reach Camaret sur Mer. In the 12-13C, the County of Crozon was possessed by the family of Leon, before passing to the hands of the family of Rohan because of the marriage in 1349 of Jeanne de Léon (daughter of Hervé VII de Léon), Lady of Crozon and Kéménet-Even , with Jean I, Viscount of Rohan; the family of Rohan was still Lord of Rohan and of Quéménet in 1541. At the beginning of the 16C, the parish of Crozon received, probably from Rome, relics of the ten thousand martyrs (Roman Legionnaires converted to Christianity and crucified under the reign of the emperor Hadrian) and built, in the parish church, a reliquary to keep them and an altarpiece to honor them .
At the French revolution, the priests were very numerous at Crozon some of them were guillotined in Quimper in 1794. Several other priests from Crozon were either incarcerated or had to hide, or were deported to Spain, etc. The Bishop of Quimper and Leon, Justice of the peace in Crozon saved the lives of many priests persecuted for the faith, promoting their escape or hiding them in the homes of his parents or friends. The expulsion of the Sisters of the Holy Spirit in August 1902 under the congregations Act gave rise to demonstrations in Crozon; a first deportation attempt failed on 7 August 1902. In WWI , 450 German citizens and 250 Austrian citizens, transported from the United States by the Dutch ship Nieuw-Amsterdan in order to be incorporated into the armies of their respective countries, were captured by the French ship Savoie and interned for part in the Fort of Bouguen in Brest, and part on the forts of Lanvéoc and Crozon (in fact at Ile Longue island). The WWII military square of the Crozon cemetery houses the graves of 10 dead Commonwealth soldiers in Crozon or at sea in the vicinity and those of two unknown soldiers.
The one things to see here if limited on time is St Peter’s Church.
The parish Church of St. Peter (St Pierre), and its Altarpiece of the ten thousand Martyrs. The current church, begun in 1899 and completed three years later. The church was badly damaged in 1944 during the liberation of Crozon and restored in 1992, when it underwent new transformations such as the development of the choir and setting up of benches. Some of the things preserved were the porch dating from the 16C, the bell tower dating from 1866,done in stone of Kersanton, which replaced the old one that threatened ruin and which could resemble that of Locronan (see post), the sacristy, built before the French revolution, and which served besides the city/town hall until 1823.
The famous Altarpiece of the Martyrs, this one is a polychrome carved piece dedicated to the remembrance of the ten thousand martyrs of Mount Ararat, Legionnaires executed for their faith under the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian. Under the altarpiece, probably the former high altar of the Church of St Peter until 1754, with a Tabernacle and two bas-reliefs. These very different formats than the altarpiece represent the flogging and fall of Jesus when he wears the Cross. The Christians of this Legion were allegedly massacred for refusing to sacrifice to the gods. If a date is engraved at the top left as 1624, it would be in fact only a restoration or reorganization of the panels. Considering the importance of devotion and style, the work dates from the early 16C.
Built in the late 17C, the pulpit, in oak, is inspired by that of the Cathedral . The panels of the frame represent the episodes of the life of St. Peter such as the miraculous peach, his liberation from the prison under the guidance of an Angel, his Ministry, his crucifixion. The Lampshade is adorned with plumes and topped with an Angel carrying the sword and sounding the trumpet. The trumpet evokes the trumpets of the Apocalypse announcing the fulfillment of the times and the last judgement; and the sword, the word of God that penetrates and judges the hearts. The altarpiece of the Rosary, dates from 1664, honors the Virgin Mary . In the Center, the Madonna and Child hands over the Rosary to St. Dominic and the scapular to St. Catherine of Siena. All around twelve medallions that represent the main events of the Evangelical life of Mary and of Christ, or mysteries. The baptismal font carved in granite, and dated 1742, consists of two elements, the large tank proper which retained the holy water for baptisms, and attached, a receptacle intended to receive water flowing on the forehead of the child. The organ conceived and realized in the 17C, it was restored in 1857 but severely damaged by the bombing of 1944. Rebuilt in 1992. Nothing remains of the old stained glass windows. Those of the Choir and transepts, in the chorus, represent the adoration of the Magi, death on the Cross and Pentecost, and in the transepts, the last supper, the miraculous peach, the conversion of Paul and St. Anne. The stained glass windows were destroyed by the bombing of 1944. But thanks to the drawings that had been preserved, they were redone identically and relocated around 1950. The stained glass windows of the nave, in glass slabs, were installed in 1981-1982.
Other things to see, need more time to see it all!
The town of Crozon has many wonderful beaches such as Aber Beach, Kersiguénou Beach, Goulien Beach, Lostmarc’h Beach, Palue Beach, Morgat Beach, Porzic Beach, Postolonnec Beach, spring Beach, Poul Beach, Trez-Rouz Beach, Kerloc’h. The area is very picturesque and rugged, and includes the Cap de La Chèvre, Pointe de Kador, Pointe de Dinan, Pointe de Lostmarc’h, Pointe de Kerdra, Pointe de Kerroux, Pointe du Dolmen, pointe de Rostudel, Pointe de Saint-Hernot, Pointe des Grottes , Pointe du Menhir, Pointe de Trébéron, Pointe of Tréboul or Pointe du Guern, and the pointe du Pouldu.
The megalithic alignments of Lostmarc’h. The megalithic alignments of Ty-ar-C’huré or House of the Priest. The Villa Ker ar Bruck, it is also called the “Eiffel House”, because it is made of metal. The Saint-Fiacre Chapel and the Saint-Fiacre fountain . They are also the Grotte de l’Autel, and the Kador, the Virgin Island, the Cap de la Chévre, the castle of Dinan, and the cliffs of Morgat. The painters took pleasure in painting this coast, such as Julien Thibaudeau, at the beginning of the 20C, from the pointe de Menhir to Morgat, restoring in depth the beach of Postolonnec, the Aber and the Bay, or Charles-Louis Houdard who painted in 1898 the heights of Crozon.
Very nice natural and monumental complex in one, great views of the Atlantic ocean and great seafood; heavens in my neighbor the Finistére dept 29 and the Crozon peninsula! Some webpages to help you plan your trip here are:
The town of Crozon on its history: https://www.mairie-crozon.fr/4/DECOUVERTE/Histoire/
The Crozon tourist office: https://www.crozon-tourisme.bzh/
The Finistére dept 29 tourist board on the Crozon peninsula: https://www.toutcommenceenfinistere.com/presquile-de-crozon-finistere
The Bretagne region tourist board on the Crozon peninsula: https://www.brittanytourism.com/destinations/the-10-destinations/brest-terres-oceanes/camaret-sur-mer-and-crozon/
There you go folks, another sublime spot to visit in my lovely Brittany and good neighbor Finistére dept 29. Enjoy the Crozon peninsula as we do!
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
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