The town of Douarnenezis located at the bottom of the Bay of Douarnenez, and is part historically of theCornouaille. 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, Therefore , let me tell you about the Chapelle Saint Michel !!! 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.
The Chapelle Saint Michel was built from 1663 to 1665, it has a trefoil layout which could be the work of the Jesuit Charles Turmel. The western facade is decorated with a door with a winged pediment dating from 1664. It supports a bell chamber cushioned by a lantern which marks the completion of the construction in 1665. Traditionally, it is said that this chapel was built on the site of the house where Dom Michel Le Nobletz lived, a famous missionary ,who spent nearly twenty-five years in Douarnenez. In reality, this chapel perpetuating his memory was built near the house which had been made available to him by a couple of merchants.
The Chapelle Saint Michel furniture and decoration, have not undergone any subsequent modifications and present a beautiful unity, representative of the second half of the 17C. altarpiece decorated with twisted columns housing in the center: the statue of the Archangel Saint Michael in typical 17C theater costume; in the side niches: a Virgin Mother and Saint Anne; in the upper parts: a Trinity, the Father holding Christ on the cross dominated by the dove. Caryatid angels and flower pots complete the ornamentation. polychrome statues: Saint Roch, Saint Francis, Saint Apostle. painting representing Michel Le Nobletz receiving the three crowns from the Virgin.
This Chapelle Saint Michel is little known, is especially remarkable for the decoration which adorns the entire surface of the paneling. The 58 painted panels represent the main scenes from the life of the Virgin and Christ, and are supplemented by other themes dear to the Counter-Reformation. The paintings of the choir were done in 1667, those of the transept in 1675 and those of the nave in 1692. We can think that the altarpiece was executed in 1666. The Breton missionary Saint Michel Le Nobletz was born September 29, 1577, and died May 5, 1652 and was buried on the 7th, on the eve of the feast of the glorious Saint Michael at Mount Gargan, so that we can easily see the reason why the veneration of the people for the memory of the holy missionary translated into a redoubled devotion to the glorious Archangel.
A chapel would have existed very anciently under this name in Douarnenez: it is mentioned as early as 1312 but was not at this location. The Saint-Michel Chapel was built, it seems, on the site of the house inhabited by Michel Le Nobletz. The first stone was laid on August 12, 1663 and land to build an adjoining cloister was acquired on July 29, 1668. An inscription and the date 1664 are visible above the main door, under the bell tower: On the bell tower is the date 1665. The chapel forms a cross: the two arms of the transept and the apse end in a hemicycle. The altar is surmounted by an altarpiece with twisted columns with the statue of Saint Michael slaying the dragon, surmounted by a group of the Holy Trinity. On the right and left are the Blessed Virgin and Sainte Anne. In the south transept, a painting on canvas represents the Child Jesus and his mother appearing to Dom Michel Le Nobletz. Curious paintings, executed from 1667 to 1675, adorn the paneling of the vault: they form forty-nine paintings representing the story of Our Lord, the Virgin and the Angels. At the bottom of a painting representing Michel Le Nobletz, is the inscription “the Reverend Father Michel Le Nobletz died in 1652 aged 75”. The chapel houses ancient statues from the 17C: Trinity, Saint Michael, the Virgin Mother, Saint Anne and Saint Andrew.
The official Chapelle Saint Michel : https://www.chapellesaintmichel.fr/
The City of Douarnenez on the Chapelle Saint Michel Association : https://www.douarnenez.bzh/contacts/association-chapelle-saint-michel/
The Douarnenez tourist office on the Chapelle Saint Michel : https://douarnenez-tourisme.com/decouvrir/patrimoine-et-culture/eglises-et-chapelles/chapelle-saint-michel/
There you go folks, a dandy coastal town with plenty to see, Doaurnenez is hidden in a harbor off the beaten path trail but worth the detour me think . Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Chapelle Saint Michel as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 