Brittany 15

Brittany 15

Goueznach._ A ruined allée couverte. Chapel of N.D. de Bonsecours, P.

Sept. 8. Chapel of S. Cado, P. Sept 25; that of Ste. Barbe, P. June 5.

 

_Benodet._ A favourite bathing resort. The church (S. Thomas à Becket)

was erected in his honour in 1241, seventy-one years after his death.

But it has undergone much alteration and enlargement. All that remains

of the original church are two bays of the apse. The foliage of the

capitals has all the freshness and charm of work of that period.

 

_Perguet_ (S. Bridget) was formerly the mother church of Benodet, but

now the relations are reversed. Externally, on the N. side may be seen

Romanesque work, and the small windows of the period. The S. side has

been completely transformed by the addition of a little ossuary and

a porch and a transept of the 16th cent. But on entering the church

the early character of the building becomes manifest. The arcades of

the nave and the chancel arch are of the 12th cent. The three bays

on the north are bold and rectangular, and, as at Fouesnant, support

relieving arches that enclose the clerestory windows. This is all 11th

cent. But the chancel arch shows distinct signs of the coming on of

the reign of the pointed style. The choir is flamboyant. Here also the

Byzantine character of the ornamentation of the 11th cent. capitals may

be observed. The east window contains 16th cent. glass, and represents

the Crucifixion. Among the statues in the church are S. Bridget and

S. Patrick, but the latter has been altered into S. Paternus. In this

church is a fireplace for warming baptismal water. The tower is of

1595. On the highway from Quimper to Benodet is the Holy Well of N.D.

de Drenec. The basin is surmounted by a niche containing a statue of

Our Lady of Pity. In times of drought the parishioners of Ergué Armel

come here to pray for rain; but those of Clohars Fouesnant go in quest

of it to Petit Ergué.

 

_La Forest Fouesnant._ This pretty little church is planted near the

sea. The spire is bracketed out above the west gable, and contains a

stone cage for bells. The Calvary is the earliest in the Department and

is of the 16th cent. In the presbytère is a noble chalice of the first

half of the 16th cent.

 

* FOUGÈRES (I.V.) chl. d'arrond. Picturesquely situated on a hill

above the Nançon. Originally a frontier town between Brittany and

France, it has preserved its venerable fortifications, but they are

crowded in by buildings. The castle was founded in the 11th cent.,

destroyed in 1166, rebuilt in 1176, has been restored. It is planted on

a rock, and was flanked by ten towers including those that commanded

the entrance. It is divided into four distinct portions, the avantcour,

the main court, the donjon, and the postern court. The entrance is

between three towers of the 12th cent. The keep was destroyed in 1630.

It rose in the midst of the second court, flanked by three towers

that still remain, that of Melusine dates from 1242. The Church of S.

Sulpice was rebuilt in 1410, but the nave and tower were not completed

till 1490. The slate spire leans. The choir, begun in the 16th cent.,

was not completed till 1765. The Church of S. Leonard was erected

1407-44, but underwent alterations in 1586-1637, and contains fragments

of old glass. Altogether Fougères is a most interesting place, and

rivals Vitré.

 

[Illustration: FOUGÈRES]

 

In the Forest of Fougères is a fallen dolmen, Pierre du Tresor, also an

alignment of 80 stones, called Le Cordon des Druides, near the ruins of

a convent founded in 1440.

 

LA GACILLY (M.) chl. arr. Vannes. Near the town on the road to

Malestroit, a menhir 15 ft. high, La Roche Piqué, and near it another

of the same height but fallen. On the Lande de Signé E. of Gacilly a

circular camp and the slope of the hill is pitted with excavations. The

parish church was formerly chapel to the castle and was of 14th cent.,

but was altered and enlarged 1626-31.

 

The Chapel of S. Jugon, 4 kilometres W.N.W. Jugon was a peasant boy who

led a devout life. P. Whitsun-Monday. Peasants take little bags of seed

to have it blessed at the end of Mass. This is then mingled with what

is to be sown.

 

_Cournon._ A fine dolmen, La Tablette. One of the coverers was broken

in 1820. W. is a menhir 9 ft. high, further W. other blocks that may be

the remains of an alignment.

 

_Les Fougerêts._ A pretty gorge with grottoes in the sides called Les

Chambres du Coucou.

 

_S. Congard_ (Cyngar) near Bignac. An allée couverte measuring 43 ft.

long and 4 ft. 6 in. high within. It has five coverers, of which one

only has fallen. A menhir near the wood of Misny. The Chapel of N.D.

de Quimper is an object of pilgrimage on Whitsun-Monday, and here,

possibly, may still be heard the barking of the pilgrims, an hysterical

phenomenon, that formerly accompanied the Pardon of Josselin. At

Wesley's revivalist meetings a similar phenomenon was noticed.

 

* GUINGAMP (C.N.). A pleasantly situated town in green surroundings,

with the little river Trieux flowing through it. The finest view of

the town with the towers of the church is from the garden of the Hôtel

de France, whence water, foliage and old buildings group admirably.

The Church of N.D. de Bonsecours is indebted to a miraculous image for

the lavish expenditure upon it. This image stands in the N. porch, and

has been accorded a gold crown from the Pope, and has been profusely

"indulgenced." The church was formerly the chapel of the Counts of

Ponthièvre. It was rebuilt in the 14th and 15th cents. and added to

in the 16th. The church consists of a nave with four aisles, double

transepts and an ambulatory round the choir. The transept and S.

transept front are of the 12th cent. The central tower and spire of

the 13th. To the same period belong the tower and turret on the N.W.

The arcade on the N. of the nave is of the 13th cent. On the S. side

the arcade is renaissance. In the spandrils are the cardinal virtues

sculptured in relief, and corbels support statues. Above the arcade

is a triforium consisting of three ranges. Above the arcade on the

north side the triforium is of the 14th cent. The choir is composed

of four bays of the 15th cent. The apse is of the same date. A

curious feature is the carrying of the triforium across the church

above the chancel arch. The transepts are lighted by rose windows of

the 14th cent. The principal porch containing the miraculous image is

closed by a grating and converted into a chapel; it contains modern

statues of the apostles. The W. doorway is a magnificent specimen of

renaissance work. Owing to the windows being all filled with modern

coloured glass overloaded with colour, the interior cannot be well seen

except on sunny days. The vaulting of the choir is sustained by flying

buttresses within the church. The fine S.W. tower is an excellent but

unfinished work of the renaissance. In the market-place is a leaden

fountain of the renaissance. A few picturesque old houses remain. The

P. is on the 1st Sunday in July. A procession with torches takes place

on the Saturday night, and bonfires are lighted in the Place. After

the religious ceremonies follow dances. N. of Guingamp on a height is

the little Chapel of S. Lambert with some early 11th cent. work, but

for the most part it was transformed in the 18th cent. The abbey of

Ste. Croix is of the 16th cent., but the church has the piers of the

transept of the 13th.

 

_Grâces._ The church is entirely flamboyant of 1508, and a typical

specimen. All the aisle windows are under gables. The baptistery is of

the end of the 16th cent. The relics of Charles de Blois are preserved

here.

 

_Pedernec._ A menhir 25 ft. high. On one face three cup-hollows. The

church was rebuilt in 1847, but the S. side aisle and arcade and a good

rose window in the transept, of the 16th cent., have been preserved.

Also a delicately carved roodscreen, out of its proper place.

 

_Coadout._ An allée couverte at Pen-poul-ar-hus, destroyed in 1863,

except for three stones, has one much polished. On this, according to

local tradition, S. Illtyd and S. Briac were wont to meet and pray

together, and it contains hollows supposed to have been worn by their

knees.

 

_Pommeret-le-Vicomte._ Remains of a dolmen at Kerbic, one coverer and

four supports still in situ. The church is of various periods. The

oldest portion is the east end, and is of the 14th cent. with a large

window. The tower and spire of 1712. In the graveyard a Calvary of the

15th cent. with a pulpit at its base. The Chapel of N.D. du Paradis is

interesting, 16th cent., with a Calvary of the same period, with the

apostles carved in relief on the octagonal base.

 

GOURIN (M.) chl. arr. Pontivy. An unattractive spot with poor hotel

accommodation. Hence conveyances may be had to Le Faouët. At Kerbiguet

a menhir 12 feet high and two others prostrate. The parish church is

of 1500 with a tower of 1745. Numerous chapels are scattered over the

parish: that of S. Hervé to the N.E. is of the 16th cent. and has

stained glass representing saints, and scenes in our Lord's life.

 

_Langonnet._ A menhir at Bodéro, 13 feet high. The parish church

has flamboyant windows and doorways, but a few pillars of the 12th

cent. remain. The tower is modern. On the S. side of the church is an

ossuary. In the cemetery a lech. The chapel of the Trinity, 1500-68,

with fine old glass representing the Jesse tree, the Passion, and the

Last Judgment, and the Life of the Virgin. The abbey of Langonnet was

founded in 1130 and is on the bank of the Ellé. It is converted into a

reformatory. Chapel of N.D. de la Pitié, P. 15th Aug.

 

_Le Saint_ (S. Samuel). Partly Romanesque, but with flamboyant windows.

The chapel of S. Adrian is an object of pilgrimage.

 

GRAND-CHAMP (M.) chl. arr. Vannes. On the north the Lande de Lanvaux,

which was once crowded with megalithic remains. Many still are to be

seen. A fine dolmen is on a rocky elevation a kilometre N. of Locperet.

The capstone measures 16 feet long. Numerous menhirs further on in the

direction of Croix-de-bois, perhaps the relics of an alignment. The

church (S. Tugdual) has been destroyed and replaced by a structure

of 1866. At Locperet is a flamboyant Chapel of S. Bridget. Another

of N.D. de Burgo is of 1528 and 1538, and near it a Holy Well. P. at

Locmaria-Grandchamp on Aug. 10th; at Moustoir des Fleurs on the 4th S.

in August. At Grand-Champ itself on the 2nd S. in Sept.

 

_Locqueltas._ A menhir, called Le Fuseau de la Femme de Gargantua,

15 feet high. At _Plaudren_ another 18 feet high, and bearing the

same name. It is near the road to Josselin on the Lande. The whole

neighbourhood is strewn with remains of dolmens and with fallen menhirs.

 

GUÉMÉNÉ (M.) chl. arr. Pontivy. Anciently Kemenet-Guegnant, owes its

origin to a castle of Guegnant, nephew of Alan Canhart, who erected it.

The fief passed to the family of Rohan. The castle was converted into a

prison for English soldiers in 1792. It is now a ruin.

 

_Silfiac._ A Chapel of S. Laurent of the 16th cent. with curious

carvings; near it the Holy Well of S. Nodez, which is supposed to cure

corns, and other maladies of the feet.

 

_Langoelan._ A dolmen on the E. of the hamlet of Villeneuve and in an

islet of the Scorff. The church is flamboyant. Le Merzer marks the

spot where Selyf or Solomon, King of Devon and Cornwall, coming to

Armorica to see his domains there, encountered the pagan natives and

was murdered by them. He was son of Geraint, who fell at Langport in

Somersetshire in 522, fighting against the Saxons. His wife was S.

Gwen, sister of Nonna, mother of S. David, and he was the father of S.

Cuby. The Chapel of S. Solomon has been destroyed.