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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame de Canihuel, located in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany, is an emblematic building whose construction ranges from the 4th quarter of the 14th century to the 2nd quarter of the 19th century. A pontifical bubble attests to the construction of the base of the tower and choir as early as 1393, marking the beginnings of a construction site which will be partially completed in 1474 with the nave, the low transept and a false transept. The sandstones, dated that same year, are attributed to the sculptor Olivier Le Loergan, while a fire in 1599 will require the reconstruction of the structure. The upper parts of the tower, on the other hand, were rebuilt in 1839, closing the major transformation phases of the building.

The church adopts a Latin cross plan, characterized by a nave of five archvolts resting on cylindrical pillars without capitals. It is flanked by low-sides with north and south side chapels, and features a double transept and flat bedside, typical of Breton religious architecture from the 15th century. Originally placed under the name of Saint Joevin (or Juva), it will lose its relics in the 19th century after doubts about their authenticity, raised by Monsignor Le Mée. The complex, including the cemetery wall and the access staircase, has been listed as a Historic Monument since August 13, 1990, highlighting its heritage value.

Historical sources highlight the church's central role in the community life of Canihuel, reflecting the religious and artisanal practices of medieval and modern Brittany. The successive interventions, from local sculptors like Le Loergan to 19th-century reconstructors, illustrate cultural continuity despite the hazards (fires, changes). The site, a communal property, remains a tangible testimony of architectural know-how and Marian devotion in this rural area, where parish enclosures structured the social and sacred space.

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