And again revisiting some of my wonderful monuments and off the beaten path towns near me in my beautiful Morbihan ,and my lovely Bretagne in my belle France ; I take you back to Merlevenez. This is another off the beaten path ways and worth a stop indeed, My road warrior mode took me back for a revisit to the Church Notre Dame de Joie ! Hope you enjoy the post as I, even if with a wedding going on could not get inside!
Not to repeat much of what already written on the town will just tell here that Merlevenez is located between Plouhinec and Nostang ,and about 19 km from my house, The Notre-Dame-de-Joie Church from the 12-15C is one of the most beautiful monuments of Romanesque art in Bretagne.
The Church Notre Dame de Joie is dedicated to Notre-Dame de Joie, whose feast day is celebrated on September 8. It became the parochial church at the end of the Middle Ages, If the origins of its construction remain unknown, the oldest parts of the church predate the time of the installation of the Templars in the region, around 1130.
Romanesque in style, the Notre Dame de Joie Church began in the 11C and continues in the 12C, most of the nave and its aisles, the two braces and the crossing forming the transept, and the heart with a flat apse. The nave was raised in the 14C. The bell tower was built on the square of the transept, at the end of the 14C. The framework of the choir was laid in 1410. The bell tower was restored in 1533, after being struck down by lightning. The sacristy was built in the 19C. The Romanesque lantern-tower supported by the piers of the crossing was rebuilt after its collapse in 1533. The large flamboyant style windows of the crosses are a contribution from the 15C.
Bombed in 1944, during WWII, the Notre Dame de Joei Church lost its roofs and all its furniture; the carved decoration was preserved. The church has been completely restored, with great care, identically.
The town of Merlevenez on the church : https://www.merlevenez.com/eglise-romane-du-xiie-siecle/
The Blavet Bellevue Océan agglomeration tourist office on the Merlevenez heritage :https://www.ccbbo.fr/patrimoine-merlevenez.html
There you go folks, one of those town in our off the beaten path ways and amazing architecture and history, This was our revisit to Merlevenez and the Notre Dame de Joie Church, worth a pass over at least, as this is not a tourist town. It is historical for sure locally and has nice architecture which I like. Again, hope you enjoy the post as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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