Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Saint-Armel fountain is located from Bresleau to Ploërmel, in Morbihan (Bretagne). Accessible from National Highway 166 towards Vannes, it is 150 metres from a turn, overlooking the track. Built of granite, it is distinguished by a vault in the middle of the wall supported by two pilasters, surmounted by a triangular pediment decorated with a bas-relief representing a knight holding an shield. This monument, typical of Breton devotional fountains, combines architectural simplicity and religious symbolism.

The Saint-Armel Fountain has been a historic monument since February 10, 1948. His pediment, according to the sources, could also carry an angel sculpture with a silent coat of arms, suggesting a reuse of earlier armorial stones. The niche dug in the wall probably housed a statue, now extinct. This type of fountain, frequent in Brittany, served as a place of pilgrimage or stop for travelers, reflecting the importance of water and spirituality in the daily life of the 17th and 18th centuries.

The architectural descriptions mention a cross over the pediment, characteristic element of the fountains of devotion. The site, though modest, bears witness to the cultural and religious practices of the region, where sources and fountains were often associated with local saints, such as Saint Armel, legendary evangelizer of Brittany. Registration for historic monuments underscores its heritage value, despite the uncertainty about its exact date of construction (17th century?).

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