Paris1972-Versailles2003

Again, in my beautiful Morbihan dept 56 of my lovely Bretagne in my belle France. The Morbihan rocks! I came back to this town just about 11,5 km from my house, down on the road D16. I revisit some usual monuments but went into the bay and saw new things, amazing always something new, see my posts, Now, let me bring you again to the small quant town of  Locoal-Mendon and the Church Saint Goal !! Hope you enjoy it as I.

The Church Saint-Goal in the village of Locoal built in the 11-12C and renovated to the 20C, dedicated to Saint Goal, a Breton hermit from the 7C who would have lived on a small island in the Etel river before retiring to Camors. A priory chapel was built in the Romanesque period by the Benedictines of the Saint-Sauveur de Redon Abbey. Of this building there remain the broken arcades falling on square piers with a simple abutment, walled in the walls of the nave, a small window to the west and a buttress to the north, at the level of the choir. The church was restored in 1614 and extended to the east. Following a fire in 1765, the aisles were removed and the arcades walled up. The arcade of the south porch, perhaps built in the 18C, was raised in 1908.

A true architectural and historical testimony, the Saint-Goal Church will take you through centuries of history. The interior of the Church Saint Goal was restored during the 19-20C. The choir was paneled at the beginning of the 19C. In 1901, a gallery was built at the back of the nave. In 1910, the interior of the windows was regularized and the rector, aided by his sacristan, had supports fitted at their base in the shape of a curved altar to accommodate statues. In 1966, the choir furniture was replaced. The ex-voto, whose author is not identified, bears the name of Saint Anne and is placed on the oratory dedicated to the saint.

At the height of the choir, was the chapel of Saint-Jean-Baptiste which was demolished in 1657.A statue of Saint Gildas now occupies the old door of the Saint-Jean chapel. Tombstones have been erected nearby.

Saint-Goal, also nicknamed Gudual and Gurval, from a noble and wealthy family, was born around the year 590 in Great Britain. His education was entrusted to the monks of Lancarvan around the year 600. The abbot of the monastery was then Saint Brendan. He became a monk in this abbey, before becoming himself abbot of the monastery around the year 620. He was called to replace Saint-Malo (bishop of Aleth (today St Malo) in the year 627. Seeking solitude, he retired in the year 629 in Guer with a few priests and built a small monastery there. Then Saint Goal decides to leave this place and settles, accompanied by twelve of his monks, on the island of Goal, then in the village of Locoal. He died at Locoal-Camors (see post Camors) on June 6, 640, aged around fifty.

The town of Locoal-Mendon on its heritage:  https://www.locoal-mendon.fr/mairie-locoal-mendon-56/cadre-de-vie/decouvrir-1.php

The local Bay of Quiberon tourist office on Locoal-Mendon : https://www.baiedequiberon.co.uk/locoal-mendon

There you go folks, this is one of those town, you see the real France.  Locoal-Mendon is not a tourist town but has wonderful nature trails and great oysters that should be worth a detour , me think.  It is historical for sure locally and has nice architecture which I like. Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Church Saint Goal as I. 

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