I love the history and architecture of cities and no doubts Vannes has a bunch; will introduce you to a unique building here. This is on the upper level facing the harbor and with views over the Gulf of Morbihan, of the Maison du Diocese of Vannes! It is located at 55 rue Monseigneur Trehiou or at least this is how it was called. It is not visited per se but you can inquire about renting a room at the new Montcalm association. I have written before , but stop by today and why not a new post with new pictures even if in part the text is repeated,,c’est la vie….
The Capuchin convent of Vannes was built in 1614, with a cloister and a chapel, in the district of Calmont-Haut. Yvon Nicolazic spent a few days there in 1625, during the investigation of Keranna.(proving the voices he heard of Sainte Anne (see basilica post). In 1806, the Ursulines bought the buildings to open a free school with a boarding school. They were evicted in 1907 by the state, which appropriated the buildings under the 1905 law (separation of State and Church) In 1909 he set up the major seminary there, In 1914, the buildings are requisitioned by the army and 500 soldiers reside there. The small seminary part becomes a hospital. The Monsignor Tréhiou rebuilt three quarters of the seminary in 1935, in order to accommodate more than 200 candidates for the priesthood. Despite the occupation and an attempted fire by the Nazis in August 1944, the premises received new generations of seminarians.
The Vannes seminary joined the interdiocesan seminary in Rennes in 1998: the seminarians are no longer trained in Vannes, but they meet there every year during Holy Week for a diocesan retreat. The building was given to the Montcalm association, which now manages the buildings and allows their sustainability by developing the activity of renting rooms, halls and meals. The Montcalm site is a place located on the heights of Vannes called Calmont-haut which overlooks the district of the port Calmont-bas from where it draws the origin of its name, Calmont becomes Montcalm. Located in the former seminary of Vannes, the Maison du Diocèse hosts various Church services, movements and associations. There is notably the diocesan library, RCF Sud Bretagne, Secours Catholique or a religious bookstore, etc.
Depending on the metropolitan see of Tours, the diocese of Vannes was erected in the 5C by Saint Patern, (see post) one of the seven founding saints of Brittany. Its limits then correspond to those of the Gallo-Roman city of the Veneti. Throughout the 6C, the episcopal see was occupied by bishops of Gallo-Roman origin, the first Breton bishops are not attested until the 7C, In the 15C, Saint Vincent Ferrier preached in the diocese and died in Vannes where he is buried in the St Peter’s Cathedral, The diocese of Vannes constitutes until the French revolution, one of the nine bishoprics of Brittany, whose territory was mainly made up of the Vannetais (or Pays de Vannes). On November 29, 1801, with the signing of the Concordat between the Consulate and the Papacy, the French dioceses were reorganized on the model of departments. The diocese of Vannes is attached to the south of the diocese of Saint-Malo with Beignon. On the other hand, it loses Redon and the middle valley of the Vilaine.
The Vannes Catholic diocese on the Maison du Diocése: https://www.vannes.catholique.fr/maison-du-diocese/
The Montcalm Association on the Maison du Diocése: https://www.montcalm-vannes.org/fr/presentation/un-cadre-exceptionnel/
There you go folks, part of the heritage, historical and architecture fabric of our capital city Vannes. I ought it to have in my blog and feel better now, this wonderful building. Again, hope you have enjoy the post on the Maison du Diocese of Vannes as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 