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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame de Lampaul-Guimiliau, located in the Finistère, is a Catholic building built in the 16th and 17th centuries. It is part of a parish enclosure, typical of Brittany, including a triumphal arch, a cross and a funeral chapel. Its bell tower, originally comparable to that of the chapel Notre-Dame du Kreisker, was truncated by lightning in 1809, losing part of its original height.

The building underwent major changes, notably in 1875, when its structure was completely replaced, with the exception of the 16th century beam of glory. The latter, classified as a historic monument in 1910, is a central element of the church, separating the nave from the choir. She wears an expressive Crucifixion, surrounded by scenes of the Passion and the Annunciation. The church itself was classified in 1910, followed by the parish enclosure in 1914.

The interior of the church houses remarkable works, such as La Mise au tombeau (17th century), carved in tuffeau by Antoine Chavagnac, sculptor of the Marine in Brest. The altars, including that of the Passion, are distinguished by their ornamental richness, with torso columns and golden statues. Other notable elements include a keranton benigner representing devils, a 1760 pulpit to preach, and 17th century banners among the oldest in Brittany. The stained glass windows, although recomposed after the revolutionary destructions, bear witness to the turbulent history of the place.

Four construction campaigns, dated 1553, 1609, 1622 and 1627, shaped the church, from the nave to the Beaumanoir-style cut-pan choir. The bell tower, a symbol of local pride, had to compete with the Kreisker before being damaged. Today, the church and its enclosure, owned by the commune, remain major testimonies of Breton religious heritage.

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