The Church Saint Herlé of Douarnenez, part II !!

Posted in Bretagne, France

The town of Douarnenez is located at the bottom of the Bay of Douarnenez, and is part historically of the Cornouaille.  For info it is only 120 km from my house, I was just there again for the memories of always now coming back with my sons and dog Rex, Many beautiful sights but we came up with the main ones me think, Do read my several posts on the town in my blog, Hope you enjoy the post as I.The beautiful wonderful Douarnenez in neighboring dept 29 of Finistére in my lovely Bretagne and in my belle France.  Therefore , let me tell you on the Church Saint Herlé of Douarnenez, part II !!  Hope you enjoy the post as I

Douarnenez ch Saint Herle front oct23

The Church Saint-Herlé, or Saint Erlé, This church is recognized as the most beautiful church in Douarnenez, according to many folks in the region. What strikes above all in the church is its superb bell tower, one of the most remarkable in the Cornish region. Situated on a height, in the center of the town, it dominates the whole country from its slender arrow, whose end rises more than 65 meters above the ground level.

The construction of the Church St Herlé began around 1548 as evidenced by an inscription visible at the base of the Tower; the Spire was built in several stages during the 17C. The whole thing is of the Cornish Gothic style. But the tower and its spire were rebuilt several times, probably after partial destruction due to lightning, especially in 1751, hence their composite character.

Douarnenez ch Saint Herle side right oct23

This Church Saint Herlé has a complex history and construction due to its layout and architecture, it is a Gothic style building on a basilica with a Latin cross, like its slender spire with four 55-metre high bell towers dedicated to Saint Herlé. This one, with its typical Cornish Gothic structure, is inspired by the arrows of Quimper Cathedral.  It should be noted that 103 holes or “echo pots”, which are in fact acoustic vases, can be seen on the upper part of the walls of the nave, choir and transept, as this is the result of an ancient technique that allows a significant improvement in the acoustics of the place, hence the organization of various concerts in this church.

The first stone of the bell tower bears in Gothic letters the year 1548 . We then read on the tower, more than 65 meters high, the dates of 1555, 1557, 1578, 1582, 1586 at the base of the spire and 1603 on the lintel of the bell tower. The apse dates from around 1620. One of the pillars of the north aisle is dated 1572. The chapels lining the three eastern bays of the collaterals, the transept and the polygonal apse were built around 1660. The ribbed vaults of the south porch were restored in 1679. The sacristy was remodeled in the 18C. The main altar with pavilion dates from the 17C. We see in the altarpiece of the Rosary, a canvas of the Rosary (representing the Battle of Lepanto), dated 1640. The preaching pulpit dates from the 18C: it is decorated with the four evangelists and Saint Herlé. The main window formerly bore the arms of Pierre de Lannion and his wife Renée de Quelen who owned the lordship at the beginning of the 17C. The current stained glass windows date from 1954. The church houses the statues of Saint Corentin, the Virgin Mother (17C), Saint Herlé as a deacon (17C), Saint Trinity (17C), Saint Anne (17C), Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Joseph (17C) ,Saint Yves, Saint Eloi, Saint Anthony, Saint Isidore and a Pietà given by Emperor Napoleon III

The City of Douarnenez on its religious monuments :  https://www.mairie-douarnenez.fr/decouvrir/histoire-et-patrimoine/religieux.html

The Douarnenez tourist office on the church: https://douarnenez-tourisme.co.uk/decouvrir/patrimoine-et-culture/eglises-et-chapelles/eglise-de-saint-herle/

A private site on the Friends of the Church Saint Herlé: https://amisdesaintherle.jimdo.com/

There you go folks, a dandy coastal town with plenty to see, Douarnenez is hidden in a harbor off the beaten path trail but worth the detour me think . The church is ongoing renovations and hours are limited but service still done. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Church Saint Herlé of Douarnenez, part II !! as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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