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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Sainte-Suzanne chapel of Mûr-de-Bretagne, located in the present commune of Guerlédan (Côtes-d'Armor), has its origins at the end of the 15th century. Its construction began on 14 April 1496 under the impetus of John II of Rohan, Viscount and local lord, who was the pre-eminent of it. The place was chosen after a legend: a statue of Saint Suzanne, transported from an ancient chapel in ruins on Mount Mene-Heiz, fell near an oak, sealing the site. The Rohan, a powerful family in Brittany, had a nearby mansion called Plaisance, probably built on the ruins of an older castle.

In 1694, important works restored the chapel and added a sacristy. The current bell tower, a neo-medieval style with an octagonal arrow, was erected in 1760 thanks to the financing of Rector Hervé Le Coq, whose name appears on the west facade. Inside, the wooden vaults painted between 1722 and 1723 by Brest artist Roch-François Delaporte illustrate scenes of the Passion of Christ and the life of St. Suzanne in a baroque Renaissance style. These paintings, restored in 1878 and 1975, form a remarkable ensemble with the two retables of 1706, one of which houses a statue of Saint Yves, patron saint of Brittany.

Ranked a historic monument in 1952 with its furniture, the chapel was attached to the diocese of Saint-Brieuc after 1802, leaving the diocese of Cornwall. His recent history was marked by flights in 1904, which destroyed his stained glass windows (now partially reconstituted in the choir), and his selection in 2018 for Stéphane Bern's Heritage Lotto. A local association works for its preservation, offering guided tours in summer. The ancient oak trees planted by the Rohans around 1700, painted by Corot in the 19th century, complete this site full of history and legends.

The annual forgiveness, celebrated on the first Sunday after July 5, continues the religious tradition of Brittany. Although the chapel is only open every 15 days out of summer season, its painted panelling, its 16th century jube (from the old church of Mûr) and its altarpiece representing Daniel judging the old men (1949) make it a unique testimony of sacred art in Brittany. Past restorations and future projects, supported by the DRAC and local initiatives, aim to preserve this fragile heritage, a witness to the links between the Rohan, the population and the Breton faith for more than five centuries.

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