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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Our Lady of Bieuzy, located in Morbihan, is built in 1560 thanks to the patronage of Michel de Rimaison, squire of King Charles IX. Its architecture reflects the transition between the flamboyant Gothic and the Renaissance, with a three-gabled Beaumanoir polygonal bedside decorated with Rimaison shields and allied families. The original stained glass windows (1560-1575), very restored before 1683, illustrate biblical scenes such as the Passion of Christ or the Resurrection, in ogival windows with architraves.

In 1753 and 1781, two side chapels were added, financed by local donors whose names (Julien Duguay, Louis-Laurent Pirvaux) were engraved in stone. These extensions, acting as false transep, complement the unique nave covered with carved sandstones. At the end of the 19th century, important works transformed the building: the nave was redesigned, and a modern bell tower replaced the old bell tower of 1699 in 1898-1899, according to the plans of the canon architect Jean-Marie Abgrall. The church was listed as a historical monument in 1925.

The furniture includes polychrome wooden statues (XVI–XIXth centuries), a rare bust-reliquary of Saint Gouvry, and a 1785 chestnut catafalk, classified as a historic monument in 1979. The neo-Gothic stained glass windows (late 19th century) tell the story of Saint Bieuzy, patron saint of the parish, while a metal girouette represents his martyrdom. A ringing stone, linked to the legend of St Gildas, and a monument to the dead of 1925 (sculpted by Albert Bourget) complete this heritage.

The building, shaped like a Latin cross, is distinguished by its raised enclosure and bedside adorned with anthropomorphic gargoyles. The swords of the nave and the foothills bear the arms of the Rimaison, testifying to their central role in its foundation. The sacristy, contemporary of the church, may have been a private chapel of this family. Recent restorations revealed wall credences and woodwork of the choir, partially disassembled.

The stained glass windows of the bedside, divided into three sets, depict key episodes of the New Testament: to the north, the Passion (Earth of the feet, Supper); to the centre, the Crucifixion and the Tombing; to the south, Resurrection and Ascension. These works, although restored, retain original elements. The baluster pinnacles and foothills highlight the influence of the Beaumanoir style, typical of the Breton Renaissance.

The church, owned by the commune, lost some elements such as its ossuary (disappeared in 1913) and its southern porch (disappeared around 1900). Its current granite bell tower dominates the local landscape. The site, still in restoration, blends six centuries of history, sacred art and Breton traditions.

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