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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Coatnant Calvary-Fontaine, located in Irvillac in Finistère, dates from the seventeenth century. It is distinguished by its unique structure combining a monumental fountain and a carved calvary, surmounted by a Virgin with the Child crushing a woman-snake, probably Damona, Celtic goddess of the waters. Together, in granite, forms an anchor of marine and houses statues of saints (Our Lady, Saint Yves, Saint Peter, Saint John). This monument, due to sculptor Roland Doré, was classified as a historical monument on November 2, 1976.

The neighbouring chapel, Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, built in 1629 (dated engraved on a pillar), adopts a Latin cross plan. It housed bas-reliefs of sibylls and a Tombing dating from the 15th to the 16th centuries. A place of active pilgrimage, it was sold in 1806 to Yves Saliou, former mayor, and fell into ruins in 1822. Rebuilt in small proportions, it retains traces of its original location, marked by a platform surrounding the current trees.

The fountain, dated 1644, illustrates the Christianization of pagan sources, a recurring theme in Brittany. The site, a communal property, bears witness to popular devotion and Breton baroque art. The restorations of the 19th century (circa 1822) and the protection of 1976 underline its heritage importance, linked to both religious history and local cultural identity.

The term Notre-Dame-de-Lorette is shared by other regional shrines, reflecting an established Marian tradition. In 1806 the rector Paugam mentioned an influx of pilgrims, confirming the social and spiritual role of the site. The carved elements, such as the Ecce Homo or the Sibylls, combine medieval and Baroque iconography, typical of the Breton workshops of the period.

The architecture of the calvary, with its granite volutes, evokes the sea anchors, a strong symbol in this coastal region. The re-use of the stones of the early chapel by the inhabitants in 1822 reveals the tensions between preservation and local needs. Today, the monument embodies the persistence of cults at the sources and the adaptation of sacred places to historical developments.

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