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Origin and history

The Church of Our Lady of Brennilis, located in the Finistère, is a religious building dating mainly from the late 15th century, with additions to the 16th century. It is considered one of the most beautiful churches in Brittany for its architecture and the richness of its statuary, notably by Canon Abgrall in the 19th century. The interior houses major works such as the Orvary of Roland Doré (15th century), a statue of Notre-Dame de Breac-Ellis, and retables from the 16th and 17th centuries. A stone engraved in the choir indicates that the construction of the chapel began in 1485 under the leadership of Prosecutor Yves Toux.

The church is also known for its annual forgiveness, which attracted until the 1960s parishioners who had come to atone for their sins by visiting the building, mixing pagan traditions and Christian rituals. The western massif, erected at the beginning of the sixteenth century, was restored several times, notably in 1693-1694 and 1955. The coat of arms of the local noble families, such as the Quélen and the Old Chastel, are visible on the building and its stained glass windows, testifying to their involvement in its construction.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 1914, the church retains remarkable elements such as 15th century stained glass windows, a silver cross of 1650, and a 19th century painted roofing panel. Its parish enclosure, once surrounded by a wooded cemetery, lost its trees after 1960. The building illustrates the importance of trevial chapels in the religious and social life of medieval and modern Brittany.

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