Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Sainte-Anne chapel of Saint-Dolay, located at the so-called "Saint Anne" in Morbihan, is a small oratory built in the 15th century. It consists of a rectangular nave arched in wood, with buttresses decorated with bands and pinacles. The windows, ground with flower archvolts, and the gable crawlers, decorated with hooks, testify to a neat Gothic style. The exterior arch is carved of human and animal figures, while the entrance door, framed with pinnacles, is surmounted by a niche. Inside, the entrances and sandstones of the frame are also carved, reflecting an exceptional craft for a building of this size.

Dedicated to Saint Anne, the chapel was said to have hosted a very frequent pilgrimage in the Middle Ages, as evidenced by the luxurious architectural elements for a rural oratory. His history was marked by a revolutionary episode in 1793, when fire attempts failed. The slates of his roof, which was taken down on this occasion, were sold at the market of La Roche-Bernard. This event illustrates the destruction suffered by religious buildings under the Terror, although the chapel partially survived.

Since November 3, 1930, the chapel has been listed as a Historical Monument and is now owned by the municipality of Saint-Dolay. Its state of conservation and its architectural details make it a rare testimony to the small religious buildings of Bretons of the 15th century, mixing devout function and local artistic expression. Sources mention an approximate location (precision: 6/10), without details of its current accessibility or contemporary uses.

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