Chapelle de la Véronique

Bannalec

The chapel of La Véronique, on the edge of Bannalec, owes its existence to a vanished sanctuary. An older chapel, dedicated to Notre-Dame de Locmaria, occupied the site before probably being destroyed shortly after the defeat suffered by the Leaguers at the château of Quimerc'h in 1597 — an episode of the Wars of Religion that ravaged many religious buildings in Finistère. Though no material trace of it survives, its memory persists in the cadastral place names round about. It was the Baron de Kermeno, a lord whose lands extended over Bannalec, Melgven and Kernével, who had the present chapel built from 1605; it was consecrated to the Virgin in 1610. Its Latin-cross plan, with walls very tall for a country chapel, its bell-gable carried on corbels and its domed stair turret give it an elegant, almost urban silhouette. Inside, the panelled vault bears the mark of its carpenter-sculptor, Vincent Le Maout, represented by a carved sheep — a pun on his own name, "maout" meaning sheep in Breton. From the late 19th century, the parish priest was noting the arrival of pilgrims and "pardonneurs" on Ascension Day, a tradition of Marian devotion still alive today.

Getting there : Free admission.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound