Original construction (according to legend) 1300 (légendaire) (≈ 1300)
Ascribed to the Cistercian monks of B Regard.
1640
Date engraved on the campanile
Date engraved on the campanile 1640 (≈ 1640)
Testimony of partial reconstruction.
1666
Nativity Retable
Nativity Retable 1666 (≈ 1666)
Work signed by Yvon Allain.
1772
Opening a door
Opening a door 1772 (≈ 1772)
Late architectural modification.
1930
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 1930 (≈ 1930)
Official protection of the building.
1939
Aquarelle by Alexandre Benois
Aquarelle by Alexandre Benois 1939 (≈ 1939)
Representation of the altar and altar.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Chapelle de Penvern (Box A1,343): inscription by order of 22 March 1930
Key figures
Yvon Allain (dit Gousmas) - Craft sculptor
Author of the retable dated 1666.
Allain Hamon - Local constructor
Surrounded the sacred fountain of stones.
Alexandre Benois - Russian-French painter
Immortalized the altarpiece in 1939.
Origin and history
The chapel of Penvern, also known as the Notre-Dame de Bon-Secours chapel, is located in Trébeurden in the Côtes-d'Armor. According to one legend, its construction dates back to 1300, attributed to the Cistercian monks of Bvistance after the miraculous discovery of a statue of the Virgin. However, this dating was contested by researchers, with Marian worship appearing later in Brittany. The present building, rebuilt several times, bears traces of the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, with inscriptions dated 1640, 1666, 1677 and 1772.
The chapel was a renowned pilgrimage site, associated with miracles and a sacred fountain surrounded by stones by Allain Hamon. Alienee during the Revolution, it was later worshipped and listed as historical monuments in 1930. His altarpiece, signed by craftsman Yvon Allain in 1666, and his altar inspired the painter Alexandre Benois in 1939. The proximity of water and shades reinforces its mystical and peaceful character.
The chapel illustrates the religious heritage of Brittany, mixing presumed pagan traditions, Marian devotion and modest architecture but rich in symbols. Its history reflects the political and cultural upheavals of Brittany, from the Ancien Régime to modern heritage recognition.
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