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Origin and history

The chapel Notre-Dame de Kerdévot, located in Ergué-Gabéric in Brittany, finds its origins in a legend linked to the plague of Elliant in the 15th century. According to tradition, the Virgin protected the parish of Ergue-Gabéric from the epidemic that was ravaging the region, inspiring the construction of a sanctuary in her honour. The name Kerdevot (place of devotees in Breton) reflects this miraculous origin. The first written testimony dates back to 1439, but the present building, in flamboyant Gothic style, was mainly built between the 15th and 16th centuries, with additions to the 17th and 18th centuries.

The chapel is a remarkable example of the post-war Breton religious architecture of Succession (1341-1364), a period of reconstruction marked by the patronage of the Dukes of Brittany and local lords such as the Tréanna d'Elliant. Its Flemish altarpiece (1480-1490), imported from Antwerp, and its master window dated 1489 illustrate the artistic richness of the period. The site, classified as a historical monument in 1914, includes a 16th century calvary and a Gothic fountain renowned for its healing virtues, linked to Marian devotions.

In the 17th century, the chapel became a place of major pilgrimage to Cornwall, attracting thousands of faithful during its annual great forgiveness, on the second Sunday of September. Gifts flow after each plague epidemic (1533, 1565, etc.), financing beautifications such as sacristy (1705) or the reconstruction of the bell tower after its destruction by a storm in 1701. The French Revolution temporarily interrupted its activity: sold as a national property in 1795, it was bought by parishioners through subscription and returned to the commune in 1804.

The 19th century saw the perpetuation of traditions, with pardons described by artists such as Eugène Boudin or Jean-Marie Déguignet, who emphasized its religious and festive character. The chapel, the third most frequented pilgrimage of the bishopric of Cornwall at the end of the Ancien Régime, declined in the 20th century, before a renewed interest after the partial flight of its altarpiece in 1973. Today, it combines Marian cult, heritage tourism and weekly organic market, perpetuating its central role in local life.

The architecture of Kerdevot combines Gothic influences (walled vaults, pinacles, master window) and classical influences (sacristy of the eighteenth). Its enclosure, typical of the Breton placisters, houses a calvary with missing statues and an armory fountain linked to the Guengat and Tromelin families. The altarpiece, classified in 1898, represents six scenes of the Virgin's life, two of which were added in the 18th century. The chapel, with its furniture and placister, has been protected as historical monuments since 1914, and its site is listed in 1931.

Traditional ceremonies, such as the pardon of horses (25 June) or the forgiveness of silence (Holy Thursday), have disappeared or been revived (pilgrimage of silence in 2009). The great forgiveness of September remains the flagship event, attracting followers from the Glazik, Fouesnantais and Bigouden countries. The chapel, opened in summer, symbolizes the fusion between religious heritage, Breton identity and community life, from medieval times to today.

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