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Origin and history

The Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Secours chapel, located at Kercohan in Berric (Morbihan), is a 16th century religious building. It has been listed as a historical monument since December 9, 1929. Its architecture combines Renaissance elements, including a three-sided apse and decorated pinacles, while its apparatus is entirely granite. The coats of arms of the Quifistre, local lords, adorn the gables of the apse, surrounded by the necklace of Saint-Michel, and a coat of arms in Breton proclaims: "Ann Itrun-Varia a wir sikour Kercohan" (Notre-Dame du Bon-Secours).

The chapel is said to have been founded by Bertrand de Quifistre, lord of Tremouar, whose nearby castle bears witness to the local influence of this family. The rectangular plane includes a nave and a choir connected by a large arcade carried by columns. The murals, added in the 17th century, enrich the interior, while the annual fairs (16 April and 25 May) highlight its central role in community life. The buttresses of the choir, cushioned with pinacles, contrast with those of the nave, remained unfinished.

The chapel, owned by the municipality of Berric, illustrates Breton religious heritage, mixing medieval heritage and Renaissance influences. Its name in Breton and its coat of arms recall the links between local nobility and Marian devotion, typical of 16th century Brittany. The buttocks and cabbages carved on the rampants, as well as the buttocks of the pinnacles, reflect a neat craft, characteristic of the seigneurial chapels of the time.

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