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Origin and history

Saint-Léon de La Baussaine Church, located in the Ille-et-Vilaine department, is a Catholic religious building dedicated to Pope Saint-Léon the Great. It is considered one of the most remarkable rural churches in the region, both for its flamboyant Gothic architecture and its preserved glass windows. Although the first mention of La Baussaine dates back to 1197, the present church dates mainly from the 16th century, with architectural elements and inscriptions to trace its evolution.

The building of the church spanned several periods: the western facade and the bedside were built in the second half of the 15th century, while the northern collateral could date from the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, as evidenced by the widow's cord of Anne of Brittany engraved on a capital. In 1527 and 1555, sandstones were dated, and in 1575, the monumental tower was built, with a ground floor serving as sacristy. A chapel was added in 1675, and a new sacristy was built between 1834 and 1836.

The church is distinguished by its complex external volumes, the result of a progressive construction around the original nave of the 15th century. The western facade, dissymmetric and granite-cut stone, is typical of the flamboyant Gothic style, with an ogival door surmounted by an ebrased window. The bedside, particularly neat, has a glass mistress decorated with scholarly fillings, while the northern facade, characteristic of the Gothic churches of Upper Britain, is rhythmized by four gabled chapels decorated with gargoyles and hooks.

Inside, the church consists of a nave accompanied by chapels forming a collateral to the north and two chapels to the south, under the tower. The arches of different sizes, worn by pillars with various capitals, create a unique architectural composition. The building is entirely vaulted with wood, with douvis covering the nave and the choir. The glass windows, dating from the 16th century, are the most valuable element of the church. Ranked in 1906, they include a master window narrating the Passion of Christ in 17 episodes, as well as other glass windows with various themes, such as Christ's childhood or the Last Judgment.

Other remarkable elements include 14th century octagonal baptismal fonts, classified in 1911, bearing the arms of the lords of Tinteniac, as well as a 15th century tombstone, also classified. A 17th-century Virgin with the Child and sculptures from Jean-Baptiste Barré's workshop adorn the altar, while an important neo-Gothic decor embellishes the choir. The church, classified as a historic monument in 1926, remains a valuable testimony to Breton religious architecture and its evolution throughout the centuries.

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