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Origin and history

The church Notre-Dame du Vieux-Marché, located in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany, is a religious building dating back to the 16th century, with a major reconstruction in the 19th century. It was erected on the site of a chapel dated 1547, several architectural elements, such as the west gate and the north gate, were reused. These components, typical of the flamboyant Gothic style, were integrated during the reconstruction of the church between 1876 and 1890, under the direction of architect Courcoux.

The construction of the present church was motivated by the demographic expansion of the Old Market commune, which became independent in 1866 after having been a truce of Plouaret. The initial project, designed to accommodate up to 1,330 faithful (two thirds of the local population at the time), allowed the building to expand from 152 m2 to 450 m2. The works, led by the contractors Kerguenu and Tensore, included the reconstruction of the bell tower in 1891 after its destruction by lightning, as well as subsequent repairs in 1903, supervised by architect Morvan.

The church of Notre-Dame is distinguished by its Latin cross plan, its bedside with cut strips, and its bell tower with pinnacles and cutting arches. Inside, the three-vessel nave and the scroll choir reflect a neo-gothic architecture inspired by medieval models. The building was partially listed as historic monuments on 22 January 1927, protecting its western gate, its northern gate with its niches, and a Pietà located in one of them.

The interior furniture and furnishings, like the woodwork of the choir installed in 1904 under the impetus of the Rector Hegarat, bear witness to the liturgical and artistic developments of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The church, owned by the municipality, remains an active place of worship and an emblematic architectural heritage of the region, illustrating the transition from medieval to modern reconstructions.

The materials of the original chapel of 1547, including the broken arched doors decorated with jewels, were carefully used, giving the building a historical and symbolic dimension. This reshaping reflects the current practices of the time, where the re-use of the old elements helped preserve cultural continuity while meeting the contemporary needs of a growing community.

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