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Origin and history

The chapel Notre-Dame-des-Fleurs, located in Languidic in Morbihan, was built around 1440 on the initiative of Guillaume de Kerouallan, local lord, in devotion to the Virgin Mary. Mentioned in 1451 in a pontifical document, it embodies flamboyant Gothic architecture with its unique nave, transept and flat bedside. Its history reflects religious upheavals, especially during the Revolution, where it becomes a temple of Reason before returning to its cult vocation.

In 1741, a first restoration was attested by an inscription engraved above the tympanum, citing the rector Le Gall de Cunfio and treasurer Julien Kernen. During the Revolution, the chapel was transformed into a school and a place of worship for the Supreme Being, before secretly sheltering the sacraments between 1794 and 1796, after the arrest of the constitutional priest. These episodes illustrate the tensions between revolutionary power and local religious practice.

The 19th century marked a period of controversial renovations. In 1892, Abbé Bris steel directed works criticized for their lack of fidelity to original architecture, followed by episcopal consecration in 1894. Ranked a historic monument in 1922 despite the municipal opposition, the chapel preserves remarkable elements such as its carved rostrum, its dedicated altars (Notre-Dame-des-Fleurs, Medal Miraculous) and a stained glass window depicting the crowning of the Virgin.

The building, a communal property, combines an exterior decorated with openwork balustrades and pinacles with an interior structured in four spans. Its openwork bell tower, accessible by a stone bridge, and its doors géminées à accolades testify to the 15th century craftsmanship. Successive restorations, although sometimes discussed, have allowed its preservation until today.

Historical sources, including local monographs and diocesan archives, highlight its central role in Languidic's religious and social life. From the Old Regime to the Third Republic, the chapel embodies both Breton Marian piety and forced adaptations to political regimes, making it a symbol of heritage resilience.

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