I am bringing you backnear me to the nice small town of Crac’h ! One of the towns one of my sons’ worked, This is of course in my beautiful Morbihan and my lovely Bretagne of my belle France! I found me older pictures embedded loosely in several posts so decided to combine them here in one post well deserve, me think. Do see my other posts on Crac’h! Therefore, let me tell you on the Chapelle du Plas-Kaër of Crac’h !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Notre-Dame du Plas Kaër Chapel was renovated built in 1873-1874, on the site of an old 15C chapel, that was built by the Templars. It is, they say, that at the end of 1797 or at the beginning of 1798, that the monastery of the Templars, located to the north of the chapel and the chapel would have been set on fire and devastated during the French revolution.
The Chapelle du Plas-Kaër was placed under the term Notre-Dame-des-sept-douleux, or Our Lady of the seven sorrows ; it is not the primitive or presumed chapel, like that built in the same place in 1468. It had been built by the Templars (the Red monks), which had their monastery about thirty meters, in the field used to serve as a parking during forgiveness on the third Sunday in September. That of Plas-Kaër ( breton for beautiful place), in fact, has few documents of the memory of these previous chapels, having in mind that the concept of heritage conservation is of recent appearance, that is to say in the 19C.
History reminds us that the embers of the revolution were still glowing in 1797 and in 1798 when it was burned. At the end of 1872, at Saint-Etienne, at the call of their rector, more than three hundred men and women, provided with shovels and picks, cleared the ruins and prepared the foundations of the chapel in its current aspect a century later, The square bell tower houses a bell dating from 1468. The statue of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows dominates the entrance gate. In 1970, the chapel threatening to fall into ruins, a group of people created a safeguarding committee of the chapel. We owe these local heritage conservatives the full catering of the chapel and its fountains .This association created in 1970 aims to determine, with the town of Crac’h, the priority of the work to be carried out to safeguard the chapel, and to carry out the work of its competence to maintain in condition and participate in the embellishment of the chapel and the site. The town of Crach on the association : https://www.ville-crach.fr/associations/sauvegarde-de-la-chapelle-du-plas-kaer/
A bit of anecdotes tell us that the vicar of the parish, had found refuge in a cache of the chapel in June 1944. He was not the only one. In 1792, the chapel was isolated in the middle of a huge heath and was a gathering place of Chouans, (locals who fought the French revolution) ,a cache but also a site where they were exercised in shooting and handling of weapons.
A path that sinks into the wood leads to the fountain of Plas Kaër. The source is sheltered by a building roof whose gable is surmounted by a stone cross. The building has a semicircular opening. When the level of the fountain is at its maximum, the water spills at the front in the large tiled pool. It is from this place that the procession of forgiveness takes place on the third Sunday in September. On each side of the edict, a stone trough whose use we do not know. The water of this source had the property of healing or preventing eye diseases and in particular cataracts. It has not been officially used since WWII, moreover, a padlocked grid prohibited access. On foot, about 2 km from the town center. From the place de l’église, take the place de l’Hôtel de Ville, then rue des écoles, engage in the path to the right of the campsite that winds in the undergrowth. 200 meters from the above chapel, turn left a path that takes you to the fountain, take again the path to continue towards the chapel. By road, as we have done take direction Locmariaquer on the road D28 after the boats repairing company which is on the right, first route on the right, village of Kerdreven. At the end of this road is the Plas-Kaër Chapel. For the fountain, cross the road walk the path and then first path on the right. A path that sinks into the wood leads to the fountain from which the procession of forgiveness leaves on the 3rd Sunday in September.
The town of Crac’h on the Plas Kaër Chapel: https://www.ville-crach.fr/annuaires/la-chapelle-du-plas-kaer/
The local Bay of Quiberon tourist office on Crac’h : https://www.baiedequiberon.co.uk/crac-h
For tours and opening hours see the Detours d’Art site on the chapel : https://www.detourdart.com/sites/chapelle-du-plas-ka%C3%ABr/
There you go folks, a dandy little town ,nice clean with lots of wonderful monuments such as this chapel. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Chapelle du Plas-Kaër of Crac’h !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 