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Origin and history

The chapel Saint-Guenaël is located at the place called "Saint-Guenaël", in the commune of Cléguer, in the department of Morbihan in Brittany. It is dedicated to Saint Genaël (or Gwenaël in Breton), a 6th century Breton monk, although its construction dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries. The rectangular building features a bedside open with a large bay and granite architectural elements such as gables and opening frames. Its western gate is flanked by square foothills, while the south wall features windows with various arches (tierceron, broken, clinging), reflecting stylistic evolutions of the era.

The early chapel, erected in the 16th century, was enlarged eastward in the first half of the 17th century. A partial date ("16.") engraved on the west elevation suggests a restoration of the bell tower at this time. Inside, the furniture includes a 15th-century polychrome wooden altarpiece, as well as 16th and 17th-century statues depicting Saint Genaël, Saint Marguerite and Saint Véronique. A fountain of devotion, perhaps dated from the seventeenth century, was restored in 1984. The chapel has been listed in the Historical Monuments since 5 December 1973 and belongs to the commune.

The architecture of the chapel reflects the Breton religious and craft practices of the Modern Times. The polychrome statues and the altarpiece illustrate the importance of the worship of local saints, while the successive modifications (enlargement, restoration) reveal a community anxious to preserve this place of devotion. The fountain, typical of Breton chapels, emphasizes its role in pilgrimage or blessing practices. Local materials, such as granite, and size techniques reflect the regional know-how of the time.

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