Chapelle du Rohic

Vannes

Tucked away from the centre of Vannes, in the district that bears its name, the chapel of Le Rohic bears witness to two quite distinct building campaigns. The western part, with its irregular rendered walls, is thought to be the older, but no precise date has been assigned to it. The eastern section, by contrast, is solidly documented: an engraved inscription bears the date 1456, and a second campaign of works, carried out in 1466 under the direction of one Nicolas En Du, completed the Gothic building. Inside, the carved wooden roof structure is one of the treasures of the place: wall plates and tie-beams reveal human and animal figures, heraldic escutcheons and an inscription dating the whole to the 1460s — an ensemble remarkable enough to be protected as a Monument historique. To the south of the chapel stands a calvary added in the 16th century. Dedicated to the Virgin and today attached to the parish of Saint-Patern, the chapel of Le Rohic remains a living place of devotion: every year, on the penultimate Sunday of August, a pardon gathers the faithful here, perpetuating a tradition of local pilgrimage. For the passing visitor, it is a rare opportunity to admire carved medieval roof timbers in a setting that has kept its human scale, far from the bustle of the historic centre of Vannes.

Getting there : Free access to the site; chapel open notably during the annual pardon, otherwise visible from outside

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

Ambient sound