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Origin and history

The Saint-Malo Church, located in Saint-Malo-de-Bignon in Morbihan, is a Catholic building whose construction begins in the 11th century, although its characteristic portal dates back to the 13th century. From 1396 on, the village became an ecclesiastical jurisdiction dependent on the bishop of Saint-Malo, whose seigneurial mansion was adjacent to the church. This link with the episcopate marks its history, notably with the residence of bishops, burned down in 1958 and partially destroyed in 1977. The portal, of Romanesque architecture, was listed as a historical monument in 1927, while the entire building (with its 16th century square and calvary) was protected in 2023.

The west facade, of polychrome apparatus, combines russard sandstone and light stone, typical of Breton Romanesque art. It is partially masked by the remains of the episcopal residence, which is now extinct. The gate, framed by foothills, features three broken arched windows and full hanger windows. Inside, a 17th century polychrome altarpiece adorns the choir, while 18th century windows illuminate the nave. The building, a communal property, illustrates the successive changes since the Middle Ages, mixing Romanesque, Gothic and classical elements.

The church is part of a historical context marked by local ecclesiastical power. As early as the 14th century, the bishops of Saint Malo exercised their authority there, as evidenced by their mansion. The 16th century Calvary, associated with the placister, highlights the religious and community importance of the site. Modern destructions (fire of 1958, partial demolition in 1977) altered this heritage, but successive protections (1927, 2023) preserved the most significant remains, including the portal and the calvary.

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