Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The chapel and cross of the Trinity, located in the Old Market in the Côtes-d-Armor (Bretagne), form a remarkable religious ensemble of the 17th and 18th centuries. The building, rectangular with a single nave, features a cut-sided bedside topped by rubble, typical of a transition between Gothic and Renaissance styles. An inscription dated 1668 appears on one of the foothills, suggesting a construction or renovation campaign at that time. The chapel once belonged to the lords of The Hague of Guernaham, whose arms are engraved on the bedside and in the choir, attesting to their patronage.

The associated cross, placed on a massive base adorned with buttons, presents a barrel surmounted by a double-sided crucifix: Christ on one side, a scene of descent of the cross on the other. The monument rests on a stone bench girding three sides, including an adjacent altar. The whole, classified as Historical Monument by decree of 11 February 1964, illustrates the importance of places of devotion in Brittany in the modern era. The chapel, facing north-south, is distinguished by its openwork bell with a cross, and its circular foothills adorned with pinnacles.

Architecturally, the chapel combines a medium granite apparatus with defensive elements such as cannons forming gargoyles, perhaps reflecting a period of local unrest. The site also includes a fountain of devotion, typical of Breton religious ensembles, where pilgrims came to gather. The Lords of The Hague of Guernaham, the local noble family, marked the monument of their emblem, highlighting their role in the religious and social life of the region.

The protection of historical monuments in 1964 preserved this heritage, a witness to the devout practices and religious art of Brittany between the 17th and 18th centuries. Today owned by the Old Market municipality, the site remains a characteristic example of Breton rural chapels, mixing spiritual functions, seigneurial symbols and hybrid architecture.

External links