Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Notre-Dame-de-la-Clarté chapel of Saint-Éloi, located in Guilligomarc'h in Finistère, is a religious building of the early 16th century, built on a Latin cross plan with a flat bedside. Its architecture, marked by lily-shaped berries and pinnacle foothills, reflects the Romanesque style. An indecipherable inscription on a carved support of the choir confirms this dating. The chapel underwent later modifications, such as the replacement of the relief cross in the seventeenth century and restorations in 1846, attested by a date engraved on the west elevation.

The chapel's furniture includes emblematic statues, such as those of the Child Virgin and St.Antoine, as well as 16th-century carved sandstones representing animals and religious figures. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the local pilgrimage experienced a revival, resulting in the acquisition of new works, including a retable of 1775 and a bust of Notre-Dame de Rostrenen. Three altars were present in 1892, dedicated to Notre-Dame, Saint-Éloi, Saint-Diboen and Sainte-Hélène. Today, the statues are grouped in front of the North Arm Retable.

The chapel is surrounded by complementary heritage elements, such as a 17th century devotional fountain, renowned for treating the ills of sight, and the remains of a bread oven. Ranked a historic monument in 2015, it has been the subject of a restoration campaign since 2020, financed by public grants and private donations. The work, estimated at €673,000 tax excl., aims to restore the roof, windows and interior and exterior walls. The chapel remains an active place of worship, welcoming each year the forgiveness of Notre-Dame de la Clarté.

The association Les Amis de la Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Clarté de Saint-Éloi, founded in 2014, plays a key role in preserving the site. The 16th century sandstones, partially disappeared during the 19th century restorations, bear witness to the craft of the period, with representations of animals and monks. The chapel, owned by the commune, is open for the visit and continues to gather the faithful during the annual pardons, the second Sunday in July and the fourth Sunday in September.

The bell tower, which is more recent than the rest of the building, and the traces tearing north of the nave suggest structural changes, such as the displacement of the original sacristy. The foothills of the south arm and the choir show covers with re-use of ancient stones. These elements, combined with the stylistic homogeneity of the construction, underline the historical and architectural importance of this Breton monument.

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