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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Saint-Herlé Church, also known as Saint-Erle, is a Catholic church located in the district of Ploaré in Douarnenez, Finistère, England. Its construction begins around 1548, as attests to a missing inscription at the base of the tower, and extends over several decades. The building adopts a Cornuaillais Gothic style, typical of the region, with a nave of five spans, a transept and a polygonal choir. The arrow, erected in the seventeenth century, was rebuilt several times, notably after a fire caused by lightning in 1751, which explains its composite appearance.

Ranked a historic monument in 1910, the church is considered the most beautiful of Douarnenez. His bell tower, inspired by the workshops of Quimper and Saint-Herbot, bears inscriptions dated (1548, 1550, 1555, etc.), testifying to the stages of construction. The south porch, vaulted on warheads, and the sacristy (recast in the eighteenth century) complete the whole. Inside, a glazed "dark" nave, arcades penetrating octagonal pillars, and remarkable furniture (master altar of the seventeenth century, pulpit to the evangelists, altarpiece of the Battle of Lepante) underline its heritage importance.

The church is linked to local figures, such as preacher Michel Le Nobletz, whose 1902 stained glass window commemorates preaching. A 16th century bas-relief represents a fishing gull, evoking Breton maritime traditions. Modern stained glass (1954) and statues (Vierge, Saint Herlé, Saint Corentin) reflect its spiritual and cultural role. The facade combines Gothic elements (trenched windows, gargoyles) and classical elements (balustrade), illustrating stylistic transitions between periods.

The site received major modifications in the 17th and 18th centuries, especially after partial destruction. The first stone of the bell tower, laid in 1548, bears the inscription "LAN MIL VCXL. VIII", followed by other engraved dates (1557, 1578, 1603). The sacristy, rebuilt in the 18th century, and the lateral chapels complete this emblematic monument, property of the commune. Its official address is 1 Bis Place Jean Gouill, 29100 Douarnenez.

Among the protected elements are the altarpiece of the Battle of Lepante (1640), signed by Rome, and a Pietà offered by Napoleon III. The stained glass windows of Labouret (1954) and statues (Saint Anne, Saint Yves) enrich his heritage. The church, open to the public, remains a place of worship and visit, symbolizing the religious and architectural heritage of Cornwall.

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