Paris1972-Versailles2003

Again, in my road warrior trips in my beautiful department Morbihan 56 of the lovely region of Bretagne in my belle France, we came again to Gourin! This is a town just one hour from my house with lots of history of France and America! This post is due to some older pictures not yet in my blog and they should be, me think After a bit of walk and some local advise we encounter the Church Saint Pierre et Saint Paul of Gourin !!! . Therefore, here is my take on this church, Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The Church St Peter and St Paul is located at 9 Place de l’Église , Gourin,The construction of the church began in 1490 with the support of the lords of Kergoët, Kerbiguet and Tronjoly. The church was completed in 1500. The inauguration took place on March 21, 1500 . The church is today a beautiful church in stone , except for part of the north wall which is tufa (shale).

The Church Saint Pierre et Saint Paul is oriented, of a rectangular shape with polygonal choir, includes a nave of seven bays, opening on the aisles by arcades in third-point resting by penetration on polygonal pillars.The fourth bay, which supported the tower, is isolated by two large arches that separate it from the nave and choir. The nave, formerly solid is covered with a wooden cradle and the choir is vaulted with ogives. 16C bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the New Testament and a Notre-Dame de Pitié decorate the altarpiece of one of the altars. The altarpiece dates from 1686 and the Virgin of Pity, in polychrome wood, dates from the 16C. The exterior decoration of the creepers, cushioned buttresses of pinnacles and portals is flamboyant. The windows are flamboyant, still contain some fragments of stained glasses. The pulpit to be preached seems to date from 1778. There is an ossuary 1778, a Calvary and originally two chapels. In 1961, the ossuary is transformed into a municipal workshop.

The bell tower, built in 1745, is a tower with balustrades and bell towers in flamboyant Gothic style, typical of the region of the Montagne Noirs (Black Mountains). You can access the “bell chamber” by a small spiral staircase. Four bells, melted in Villedieu-les-Poêles (Manche dept 50 ) were blessed during a grandiose party, on October 27, 1901.  Each bears a name: Anne-Perrine, Marie-Louise, Marie-Aurélie and the greatest Edmée-Joséphine. The latter, the respectable weight of 609 kg (modest for a bell but the smallness of the bays of the tower does not allow to receive larger), had for godmother, the countess of Lescouet. Electrical handling replaced the manual ringer after WWII.

The stained glass windows of origin were destroyed during the French revolution. The current stained glass windows, bright, with shimmering colors were set up in 1874-1875. The organ was built in 1864 ,and was restored in 1930, as well as in 1960, then again from 1997 to 2000, when the new organ was restored to its original place at the front of the platform.   The organ of Gourin is one of the best preserved of the region. It is the only organ of such quality existing in the perimeter of the Pays du Roi Morvan (country of king morvan) and the townships of Plouay and Cléguérec.

The town of Gourin on the church:  https://www.gourin.bzh/eglise-saint-pierre-saint-paul

The Parish diocese of Gourin on the church:  https://www.doyenne-gourin.fr/eglises/eglise-saint-pierre-saint-paul/

The pays de roi Morvan tourist office on the church: https://www.tourismepaysroimorvan.com/en/preparing-your-stay/to-see-and-do/religious-heritage/churches/eglise-saint-pierre-et-saint-paul-1052103

There you go folks , this is a town worth the detour for all its monument, The church of Gourin is worth the visit. I had a good impression of the town, lively, clean , good ambiance and wonderful things to see. Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Church Saint Peter and Saint Paul of Gourin as I

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