I am again back to tell you more of the Saint Gildas de Rhuys Abbey in the Presqu’ïle de Rhuys peninsula in my beautiful Morbihan and my lovely Bretagne and in my belle France. A wholesome package of beauty and unbelievable history and sights. The best way to get here is by car along the N165 expressway Brest -Nantes and get off from Vannes at exit Sarzeau follow it on the D780 road until the roundabout for direction Saint Gildas de Rhuys on the D198. Each town has its marvels, gems of our history and architecturally stunning. This is the case of the marvelous Abbey Church of Saint Gildas . I found me some pictures in my vault that should be in my blog, therefore, time to tell you more of it. Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The present Saint Gildas de Rhuys Abbey still preserves beautiful elements of the Romanesque Abbey such as the Choir, north transept, 32 capitals with geometric decorations and several tombs. The monumental altarpiece of the south cross brace dates from the first third of the 17C. By their sobriety, the nave and the crossroads of neo-classical transept harmonize well with the surviving Romanesque parts.
This former Benedictine abbey, built on the Rhuys peninsula, faces the Atlantic Ocean. Today integrated into the village, the monastery was near a large forest that covered the entire peninsula in the Middle Ages. Ancient writings attribute the founding of the first monastery to the 6C. The abbey would then have been founded by Saint Gildas, a monk from Scotland, in 536. The beginnings of the monastery are actually known to us through historical facts dating back to the Norman invasions of the 10C.
The Saint Gildas Abbey was sold as national property in 1796 during the French revolution, and in 1804 the town obtained the right to buy back the church which had then become parish. In 1825 the monastery was bought by Mrs. Molé de Champlâtreux who installed the nuns of the Congregation of Charity of Saint-Louis there, The Church Abbey of Saint-Gildas de Rhuys, has a Latin cross plan consisting of a nave of four bays bordered by narrow side aisles preceded by a facade with a bell tower decorated with classical pilasters and pediment. All this part preceding the crossing of the transept is modern since completely rebuilt at the end of the 17C after the fall of the crossing tower in 1668.
The treasury of the Saint Gildas Abbey, considered one of the most remarkable in Brittany, consists of works from the 14C to the 18C. During the French revolution it would have been hidden in the attics of the surrounding houses. Composed essentially of two hunts and four morphological reliquaries, as well as various objects of worship: chalices, quarter panel, reliquary cross, etc The treasure of the Abbey, saved during the French revolution by the Rector Le Duin, whose tomb is still in the cemetery of Saint Gildas.
Discover, under the Roman vaults, the more than a thousand-year-old and mysterious history of one of the most prestigious abbeys in Brittany and its famous characters: Saint Gildas, Saint Félix, Saint Goustan, Abélard, the Dukes of Brittany. The precious goldsmith’s treasure still contains relics. To discover it is to embark on an extraordinary journey through time. Awesome ,recommended to see them, Some must sees me think are : .
Saint Gildas, founder of the abbey of Rhuys, died in 565 and was buried behind the main altar of the church piping on the sides. A beautiful white stone statue is standing near the tomb; it represents Saint Gildas with his bare head, his eyes raised to heaven, and holding a pastoral staff in his hand,
Saint Félix, restorer of the abbey of Rhuys, died on February 12, 1038, and was buried in the north transept of his church, under a curved arcade, on the side of the altar. His tombstone, in granite, cut in the shape of a shrine, offers the design of a pattée cross, in relief, with some ribs, and an inscription in Roman capitals.
Saint Goustan, simple lay brother of the house and companion of Saint Felix, died on November 27 around the year 1040 on a trip to Beauvoir in Poitou. His body was brought back to Rhuys and buried in the north transept, opposite his master. stone coffin, which still contains some of his relics. Its dimensions are indicated there; as a particularity it should be noted the dug cubicle fear to receive the head. As it was broken, it was replaced in 1896 by another lid from the 11C, which remained unused. It features a cross pattée, with ribs and two spoked circles.
Saint Gingurien, another lay brother of the monastery, died on September 28, we do not know in what year, but certainly before Saint Felix. He was buried in the apse chapel, where a relatively modern stone bears some simple words in Latin,
Saint Bieuzy, the disciple of the founder, was buried in the vicinity; but the primitive church having been ruined by the Normans in 919, his tomb was not found by the monks of Saint Felix, and even today the precise place of his burial is absolutely unknown.
Saint Ehoarn was living alone in a cell near the abbey church, when one night he was attacked by brigands and killed with an axe. It is probable that he was buried in the church, but today there is no trace of his tomb.
Nearby, under the second arcade, is the sepulchral stone of the monk Rioc; it has the same dimensions as the previous one, bears a cross pattée in relief, with a few straight lines, and presents an inscription, This monk was not abbot, but simply prior; it was by honor that he was given the first title. There is probably a stone coffin under this lid, as under the previous one. Another monk from Rhuys, named Simon, died in his prime, and was buried outside the north transept, between the apsidiole and the choir.
Four children of the Duke of Brittany Jean I and Blanche de Champagne, who died at Sucinio, were buried side by side in the choir of the Saint-Gildas Church. Their funerary slabs, adorned with their image in a single line, and framed in an intaglio inscription, have been worn under the feet of passers-by. You have here ,Thibaud I of Brittany represented standing, hands joined , We then have Aliénor de Bretagne, born and died in 1248 , Then comes Thibaud II, born in 1247 and died in 1251, We finally have Nicolas de Bretagne, born in 1249 and died in 1251 in his third year. Intended for the ecclesiastical state, he wears the costume, and his epitaph is in Latin
The Saint Gildas Abbey’s reception center is open all year round to accommodate individual stays, groups, training courses and spiritual retreats. At your disposal, 80 rooms for a capacity of 140 people. For today’s tourist, Saint-Gildas de Rhuys is a charming and busy summer resort on the south coast of Brittany, very close to the Gulf of Morbihan. By the sea, alternate high granite cliffs, small sunny beaches, coves sheltering small ports like le port aux moines or monks port are sublime, nice trip there for sure.
The official Abbey Church of Saint Gildas: https://www.abbaye-de-rhuys.fr/
The Friends of the Abbey Church of Saint Gildas: http://amis-abbatiale.blogspot.com/p/visites-de-labbatiale.html
The city of Saint Gildas de Rhuys and its heritage: https://www.saint-gildas-de-rhuys.fr/categorie/decouvrir/patrimoine/
There you go folks, indeed I believe my beautiful Morbihan and my lovely Bretagne has an endless amount of things to see and do and this just one region of my belle France where I live for the last 9 plus years of my life. Hope you enjoy the post on the Abbey Church of Saint Gildas as we have and share the enthusiasm and awesome experience with you.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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