Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Saint-Charles-de-Blois d'Auray is a Catholic building located in the railway station district, Place Léon-Chevassu. Its construction was initiated at the beginning of the 20th century by Léon Chevassu, rector, to respond to the demographic increase in the sector. Funded by private subscriptions, it was erected in 1930 according to the plans of the departmental architect Guy Caubert de Cléry, then consecrated in 1939. Its architecture blends granite, concrete and rubble, in a marked Art Deco style, with a Cornouaillais style bell tower and a facade decorated with Lombardic bands.

The building is under the patronage of Charles de Blois (1319–1364), Duke bailister of Brittany and central figure of the War of Succession of Brittany. Beatified in 1904, it is celebrated every 29 September. The unique nave, with its centered plan, houses remarkable furniture, including a painting depicting Christ of pity and the vow of Louis XIII, as well as seven glass windows illustrating biblical scenes and local saints such as Saint Anne or Saint Michael.

The portal in the middle of the wall, surmounted by a monumental rosette, highlights the influence of the artistic currents of the 1930s. The church embodies both a Breton religious heritage and a modern adaptation to the pastoral needs of an expanding neighbourhood, linked to the arrival of the railway. Its inscription in the urban landscape of Auray reflects the architectural and social evolution of the city in the 20th century.

External links