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Origin and history

The chapel Saint-Yves de Lignol, located in Morbihan in Brittany, is a Catholic religious building built mainly in the 16th century. It is the result of the assembly of two separate chapels: the first, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, dates from the end of the 15th century, while the second, a seigneurial chapel linked to the Lords of the Coscro, was attached to it at the beginning of the 16th century. Their meeting forms a T-shaped plan, characteristic of the building, with a wide arch connecting the two spaces. The flamboyant Gothic bell tower is inspired by that of Notre-Dame de Kernascleden and is distinguished by its granite arrow adorned with hooks and surmounted by pillars carved in dragon heads.

The interior preserves sandstones and entrances decorated with fantastic motifs (animals, fabulous characters), as well as a mostly 16th century statuary, including representations of Saint Yves, the Holy Trinity, Saint Méen, Saint Marguerite, and an anonymous bishop. The chapel underwent subsequent renovations, especially in the 19th century, where it was elongated and its windows redone in the middle of the wall. A legend attributes its origin to the Templars, but the historical sources suggest rather a construction by the Hospitallers, active in the region at the end of the 15th century with a hospital in Saint-Yves, now disappeared.

The bell tower and the western gable of the chapel have been listed as Historic Monument since 1925. The building, owned by the commune of Lignol, illustrates the Breton religious architecture of the Renaissance, mixing late Gothic influences and Renaissance elements. Its sculpted decor and its history linked to the local seigneury make it a remarkable testimony to the Morbihan heritage.

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