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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Ossuary of Lanvellec is a religious building located in the cemetery of Saint-Brandan Church, in the municipality of Lanvellec, in the Côtes-d'Armor department, Brittany. Built in granite, it has a flamboyant Gothic style, with a rectangular plan and an adorned broken arch door. His role was to collect the bones of the deceased exhumed, a common practice in Breton cemeteries to free space.

Dated from the second half of the 15th century, this ossuary is a typical example of small buildings erected in Breton cemeteries between the 13th and 17th centuries. It is distinguished by its seven trilobed arcades, separated by twin columns, and its double row of columns. The building was classified as historic monuments by order of 22 July 1924, recognizing its heritage value.

The ossuary is now owned by the municipality of Lanvellec. It is located near the parish church, in a cemetery still in operation. Its architecture and function reflect the Breton funeral traditions of the medieval and modern era, where space management in cemeteries was a major concern for local communities.

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