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Origin and history

The abbey of Le Relec, also called the abbey of Le Relecq, was founded in 1132 by seven monks from the abbey of Bévis, on a site probably previously occupied by a Benedictine abbey linked to Saint Paul Aurelien. Located in the Queffleut Valley, at the foot of the Arrée Mountains, it follows the Cistercian rule, combining prayer, study and manual work. The monks clear the land and develop an innovative agricultural system, the Quevaise, attracting peasants in exchange for strict rights of use.

The abbey reached its peak between the 12th and 15th centuries, despite lootings like that of 1375 by the troops of the Duke of Lancastre. It introduces a sophisticated hydraulic system, with ponds, fountains (including one dedicated to Notre-Dame, renowned miraculous) and moats to irrigate the gardens. The monks also play a key role in the development of local tourism activity, promoting the social ascent of the juloded, affluent peasants of the region.

From the 16th century, the abbey declined: non-resident trading abbots succeeded each other, like André de Torsolis, appointed in 1542 despite the opposition of the monks. Piled during the Wars of Religion (especially in 1598 by La Fontenelle), it was partially restored in the 17th and 18th centuries, but fell into ruins before the Revolution. In 1789, only prior Dom Verguet and three other monks still resided there. The church, transformed into a stable, was classified as a historical monument in 1914.

The Quevaise, a system of egalitarian tenure imposed on peasants, generates lasting tensions. The quevaisiers, subjected to heavy obligations (champart, chores, prohibition of closing the land), revolting several times, especially in 1727. Aboli in 1789, this system left a strong social footprint, often associated with the emergence of egalitarian ideas in the region. The abbey, now owned by Finistère, still welcomes an annual pardon on August 15, attracting thousands of faithful.

Architecturally, the abbey combines Romanesque styles (XII century) and Gothic styles (reshuffles of the 15th and 18th centuries). Its carved capitals, its 17th century baroque altarpiece and its wall paintings discovered in 2015 make it a rare example of Cistercian art in Brittany. The ruins of the convent buildings, the monumental fountain of the eighteenth century and the ponds recall its monastic and agricultural past.

Since 2006, the abbey has been part of the Routes du Patrimoine in Finistère, a network of jointly managed historical sites. Concerts and exhibitions are organized by the Abbati ar Releg association, perpetuating its cultural and spiritual role in the Arrée Mountains.

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