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Origin and history

The Fountain Notre Dame de la Fosse is a 16th century religious building located in Place de la Fontaine, in the heart of the village of La Chapelle-Neuve, in the Morbihan department. This monument, of classical style, is distinguished by its imposing structure of more than three meters high, combining an arcade partially covering the pool and a statue of the Virgin. Its sober architecture, marked by columns and raised pediment, reflects the aesthetic canons of the Breton Renaissance, while integrating elements of popular piety typical of devotional fountains.

Ranked as historical monuments by order of 23 September 1928, the fountain illustrates the importance of sacred sources in the Breton cultural landscape. The presence of a carved stone and a virgin inside underscores its utilitarian function – a point of communal water – and spiritual, a place of pilgrimage or Marian devotion. The property of the municipality now guarantees its preservation, although its location status is considered fair (note 5/10) according to the heritage databases, perhaps reflecting maintenance or documentation challenges.

The historical context of the 16th century in Brittany, marked by the affirmation of royal power after union with France (1532), saw the proliferation of religious buildings with a collective vocation. Fountains, often associated with local legends or cults, play a central role in everyday life: water supply, gatherings, and devotional practices. The Fountain Notre Dame de la Fosse is part of this tradition, reflecting the fusion of practical needs and expressions of faith in the Breton countryside of modern times.

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