Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of St.Maximilien Kolbe, originally dedicated to St.Peter until 2011, is a Catholic building located in Corps-Nuds, Brittany. Built between 1881 and 1890 by the Rennes architect Arthur Regnault, it replaces an old church of the 16th and 17th centuries. Its Romano-Byzantine style, marked by a tube dome and a bulb bell tower, makes it a unique architectural prototype in the region. The interior, decorated with white tuft and golden decorations reminiscent of Byzantine mosaics, contrasts with its sober exterior.

The church has experienced several significant events, including its use in 1941 by the Germans for the filming of a propaganda film intended to deceive the advance of the troops in the USSR. Classified as a Historical Monument in 2004, it also houses the burial of Bishop Firmin Guichard, a missionary and bishop in the Congo. The restoration work, including that of the bell tower in 2011-2012, helped preserve this emblematic heritage.

The building, partly financed by parishioners, reflects the local commitment to its construction. Its centered plan and luminosity make it a remarkable place of worship, while its restored bell tower with a gold-leaf cross dominates the landscape of Corps-Nuds. The church thus embodies a mixture of local history, bold architecture and spirituality.

Arthur Regnault, a Rennes architect, applied a hybrid style combining Romanesque and Byzantine influences, visible in the arches and bulbs of the bell tower. This architectural model has inspired other achievements in the region. The church, owned by the commune, remains a symbol of Breton religious and historical heritage.

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