Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The chapel Notre-Dame-de-la-Pitié de Mellionnec, located near the Nantes Canal in Brest in the Côtes-d'Armor, is a 16th century religious building. Built of granite-cut stone, it has a rectangular plane and a marked gradient between the west and the bedside, reinforced by foothills. Its architecture is characteristic of central Brittany, with rampants decorated with sleek cabbage leaves and sculpted sitting stones of real or fabulous animals. The Boutteville coat of arms, the founding lords, is visible above the west gate and on the bell tower, attesting their role in its construction.

Inside, the chapel houses a single vessel covered with a carved entrance structure and a crib panel with ground ribs. An ancient stand and a statue of Saint Gildas in painted wood, classified as a historical monument in 1974, are preserved there. The axial glass, adorned with a contemporary window by Mickaël Messonnet (1994), completes this ensemble. The chapel, inscribed in historical monuments since 1973, reflects the influence of the local lords and the Breton crafts of the period.

The chapel is dedicated to Notre-Dame de Pitié and Saint Gildas, suggesting a link with religious traditions and local legends. Its location near the canal and its robust structure, supported by four biased foothills, testify to an adaptation to the terrain and a desire for sustainability. The decorative elements, such as expressive engulfing and sculpted pendant keys, highlight the know-how of 16th century artisans, while integrating heraldic and religious symbols specific to the region.

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