Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Tenenan de Guerlesquin church, located in the Finistère, is an emblematic monument of the first half of the 16th century. Its three-vessel Latin cross plan, its hors-œuvre south porch and its multi-hulled bedside reflect late Gothic architecture. The bell tower-wall, flanked by a cylindrical turret with a screw staircase, is particularly remarkable with its openwork bell chamber, gallery and arrow decorated with crossettes. This bell tower, dated 1520, is the only vestige of the original building, classified as Historic Monument in 1932.

The western gate and bell tower, built in 1520, are the oldest elements of the church. The rest of the building was rebuilt between 1858 and 1859 according to plans of architect Edouard Puyo de Morlaix, at the location of an older church dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. The nave, with seven spans covered with a panel, and the arches in broken arches resting on columns with capitals, illustrate a careful reconstruction. The lateral chapels, forming a false transept, and the granite floor complete this architectural ensemble.

The Saint-Tenenan church, owned by the commune, is a typical example of Breton religious architecture, mixing medieval heritage and 19th-century restorations. Its bell tower, classified in 1932, and its western facade are the only elements protected under the Historic Monuments. The building, located at Martray Square in Guerlesquin, remains a place of worship and a major local heritage.

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