Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The chapel of Fontenay Castle, located in Chartres-de-Bretagne in Ille-et-Vilaine, is a religious building dating back to the early twelfth century. It was built in several stages, integrating elements from the 14th, 16th and 17th centuries. Originally, it served as a castral chapel in a castle today extinct, one of the oldest and most important seigneuries in Rennes. The castle, with two towers, a palm game, an e-mail and a motte, welcomed notable personalities such as Henry IV in 1598 and Louis XIII in 1626.

The chapel is the only notable vestige of the castle, with some of the servitude buildings and moats. Its architecture reflects three distinct periods: primitive Romanesque, ogival and modern. The right bedside nave features 16th and 17th century curved windows, a broken arched door, and a large 14th century radiant window with five leaves. Inside, these stylistic differences are also visible. The chapel was listed as historical monuments on 11 April 1975.

The castle of Fontenay, now destroyed, played a central role in the region, as evidenced by royal and princely visits. The preserved outbuildings, with their 15th century octagonal stump chimneys, recall the historical importance of the site. The chapel, now located in the courtyard of a farm, remains a remarkable example of architectural and religious evolution in Brittany over centuries.

External links