Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The chapel of the Clarity, located The Sciellour in Baud (Morbihan), is an emblematic monument of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. Its architecture combines Gothic elements, such as the three-sided polygonal bedside known as Beaumanoir bedside, and classical details, including the tower's balusters and gargoyles, added in the 17th century. Originally, it was adjacent to Saint Peter's parish church, destroyed in 1922, and served as a transept. Its bedside, designed to maximize light, recalls that of Notre-Dame de Paradis in Hennebont, suggesting a possible common origin of the workshops.

In 1925, the chapel was listed as a Historic Monument for its heritage value. After the destruction of Saint Peter's church, the architect Caubert de Cléry (Vannes) decided in 1927 to integrate him into a new neo-Gothic nave, reversing his orientation: the choir found itself in the south. The glassed vault of 1625, adorned with carved sandstones, is then lowered by two meters to harmonize with the new structure. The square tower, which had been crushed twice, was rebuilt the same year. These transformations give it its current composite appearance, where styles overlap.

The chapel also illustrates the evolution of local religious practices. Originally dedicated to Notre-Dame de la Clarté, it became the parish church of Saint Peter after 1927. Its massed plan, with low side and transept not prominent, reflects the liturgical needs of the medieval and modern era. The broken arched bays, typical of Breton Gothic, contrast with the modern polygonal arrow. Today, the monument, owned by the commune, bears witness to this complex architectural and spiritual history.

Among the remarkable details, the sacristy next to the former west facade echoes the quadrangular tower, backed by foothills and crowned with a balustrade. A staircase turret, with a dome, completes this granite ensemble. The three gables of the bedside, emphasized by mouldings in larmium, recall the innovations of the Breton workshops of the 16th century, seeking to combine functionality (lighting) and aesthetics. These features make it a rare example of Beaumanoir bedside in the region.

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