And we go on, on an endless tour of my beautiful Morbihan dept 56 of the region of Bretagne my belle France. The views, sights are indeed endless here and I am doing my best to introduce you to the off the beaten paths of my Brittany. I have written before and back on my road warrior rides we came back to the Notre Dame Church of La Chapelle Caro! Another small beauty, now merged with several small towns into the official town of Val d’Oust. I rather like the old name better !
La Chapelle Caro takes its name from the de la Chapelle family. It is a dismemberment of the original parish of Ploërmel. It was nicknamed “La Basse-Chapelle” or “La Chapelle-sous-Ploërmel”. After having belonged to the great lordship of Porhoët, La Chapelle-Caro entered the ducal domain in 1168 , and it was erected as a viscountcy in 1576, a county in the 17C, and united with the lordship of Crévy in 1630. Later was a former truce of Ploërmel until 1802, when La Chapelle became a parish in its own right. From January 2016 it has become part of the new town of Val d’Oust.
However, as much as the name the interesting thing to see here is the Church of Notre Dame, built in 1868 to replace a former treviale church and parish from the 17C, reworked in 1711. The present Church is in the shape of a Latin cross. A square tower is located at the bottom of the nave. The stained glass windows are post–1870. The Church houses a statue of saint Fiacre 16C. A beautiful early 16C processional cross, silver plated on solid wood, is kept in the sacristy; On one side is Christ, with the Gothic legend Inri, and, in the quatrefoils, Saints with their names written in Gothic on phylacteries; on the reverse we see the monogram of Jesus, and at the ends the symbols of the Evangelists.The façade of the Church was restored in 2007 as well as the stained glass windows.
Located at the foot of the Notre-Dame Church, there is a yew now measuring more than 7 meters in circumference. It is assumed that it was planted during the construction of the old church in the 14C, which makes it one of the oldest in Morbihan. It is also classified among the remarkable trees of Brittany. Inside you have on one side Christ, with the Gothic legend Inri, and, in the quatrefoils, Saints with their names written in Gothic on phylacteries; on the reverse we see the monogram of Jesus, and at the ends the symbols of the Evangelists. Hard to get in as most of the time is closed due to vandalism unfortunately. Yes even in small country towns!
The new city of Val d’Oust on its heritage including the above church: https://www.mairie-valdoust.fr/les-monuments
There you go folks again a wonderful new town of Val d’Oust in the old La Chapelle Caro an off the beaten paths town of my beautiful Morbihan. We criss cross the department 56 and region to show you not only France is the most visited country in the world, but Brittany is the third most visited region of France! Enjoy the unique Notre Dame Church of the former town of La Chapelle Caro !
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Leave a Reply