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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Notre-Dame-des-Fleurs chapel, located on Rue Notre-Dame-des-Fleurs in Plouharnel, Morbihan, is a religious building built during the second half of the sixteenth century. Its Breton name, Intron Varia er Bleu, evokes a symbolism related to fertility and flowering, reflecting a Marian devotion rooted in local culture. By 1599 she served as a parish church, testifying to its importance in the spiritual and community life of the region. Its architecture, marked by foothills decorated with pinnacles and a carved frame, illustrates the stylistic influences of the Breton Renaissance.

The chapel went through several troubled periods, suffering damage during the French Revolution and then during the German occupation during the Second World War, due to its proximity to the dunes of the Lorient pocket. Despite these trials, it preserves exceptional heritage elements, such as a bas-relief in English alabaster of the 15th century, representing a tree of Jesse, discovered in a chapel today destroyed. This bas-relief, restored in 2005, miraculously survived the conflicts. In 1765, the chapel also welcomed objects recovered after a shipwreck off Sainte-Barbe, strengthening its role as a protective sanctuary.

Ranked a historic monument since 15 June 1925, the chapel Notre-Dame-des-Fleurs is distinguished by its bell tower framed by two octagonal turrets, one of which, purely aesthetic, responds to a concern for symmetry. Inside, the choir was redesigned in 2009 to adapt to the post-Vatican II liturgy, with an altar and an ambon created by the cabinetist Guillaume de Pont-Scorff. Among his treasures are a statue of Saint Armel, patron saint of Plouharnel, dated 1577 and classified as a historical monument, as well as a stained glass window evoking nature, in homage to his emblematic name.

The exterior of the chapel has notable architectural features, such as a stone bench along the southern facade and lintel doors in basket handle. The flat bedside and snout windows, some in the shape of a fleur de lilies, highlight the mix of Renaissance and flamboyant Gothic styles. A 15th century Christ, installed in 2010, and a painting by Ernest Guérin (ca. 1940) depicting the chapel complete this artistic and historical heritage.

Owned by the commune of Plouharnel, the chapel embodies both an active place of worship and a witness to Breton traditions, mixing local history, sacred art and resilience to the hazards of time. Its designation as a historical monument in 1925 was a reflection of its heritage value, while its restoration and recent developments ensured its transmission to future generations.

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