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Origin and history

The chapel of Véronique, located in Bannalec in Finistère, was built at the beginning of the seventeenth century to replace the old chapel of Locmaria, probably destroyed in 1597 by the Leagues after their defeat at the castle of Quimerc The present building, founded by the Kerhoent family of Kergurnadec, the owner of Goarlot's neighboring fief, was erected in 1605 and consecrated in 1610. Several coats and coats of arms inside and outside testify to their patronage, as well as their alliance with the families of Rosmadec, Kermeno, and Molac.

The name "Véronique" could come from a Breton deformation of ar wernig ("laulnaie"), with reference to the alders planted around the site, as suggested by 17th century notarial acts and local records. The granite chapel features a Latin cross plan with a cut-sided bedside and a bell tower supported by a cornice decorated with gargoyles. Three glass windows of the choir, dating from 1605, were partially destroyed by lightning in 1947. The sandstones of the walled vault bear the signature of carpenter Vincent Le Maut, represented by a sheep (Maout in Breton).

Classified as a Historic Monument in 1914, the chapel now belongs to a private owner but remains accessible on request. Its architecture and heraldic elements make it a remarkable testimony of Breton religious art of the early seventeenth century, linked to the influence of local noble families. The sacristy, added in 1662, completes the building, located in a wooded valley 4 km west of the town of Bannalec.

The old chapel of Locmaria, of which no material trace remains, is mentioned in the names of the current cadastral plots. Its location was 200 metres southeast of the Véronique Chapel. The foundation of the latter is part of a post-Ligue wars context, marked by the reconstruction of religious buildings in Brittany.

The coat of arms in the chapel, numbering eight, illustrates the alliances between the families of Goarlot, Rosmadec, Kermeno, and Kergurnadec. The heraldic motifs include echelons, bicephalic eagles, and palles, reflecting the noble lines of Cornwall. These elements, combined with the engraved dates, provide an insight into the aristocratic patronage and local power networks in modern times.

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