The exceptional Sainte-Barbe chapel in Le Faouët
Surprising, extraordinary, remarkable... There aren't enough words to describe the Sainte-Barbe chapel in Le Faouët. But just one is enough to say that it's a must-see!
The funny story of Sainte-Barbe Chapel
If the site of the Sainte-Barbe chapel can be described as unusual, the story of its construction is just as much so.
Sainte Barbe, a saint of great powers
For a very long time, Saint Barbara has been invoked to watch over those who come into contact with fire, gunpowder and explosives... That's why she is the patron saint of firemen, cannoneers and miners...
In the old days, when they heard thunder, many Bretons, young and old, recited the following saying: "Saint Barbara, protect us from thunder. When the thunder falls, Saint Barbara will protect us. They had every confidence in the saint's protection.
But then, was Saint Barbara a kind of Wonder Woman with fantastic powers long before the superheroes of Marvel or DC? If he were still with us, Jean de Toulbodou wouldn't disagree...
The misadventures of Jean de Toulbodou
A hunting trip with a happy ending
Jean de Toulbodou, the youngest of the Lords of Locmalo, had just left his manor house at Guidfoss in Plouray to go hunting on the lands of his neighbour Jean de Boutteville, Lord of Le Faouët. As he wanders through the undergrowth in search of game, an extremely violent storm breaks out. Terrorised by the lightning, thunder and downpours, and thinking he would be struck by lightning or crushed by the boulders falling from the rock face, he implored Saint Barbara. If he survived, he promised to build her a chapel here. Thestorm stopped instantly, the boulders clung to the ground and the lord of Toulbodou was saved from a terrible death! A man of his word, he kept his promise and built the astonishing chapel we know today on this rocky escarpment.
A strange legend
It would have been easier to build the chapel on more suitable ground. So, given the difficulty of the task, the builders decided to build it at the top of the hill and not on this small rocky platform, which required incredible technical prowess. But, be warned, a promise is a promise...
So work began higher up, on the current plateau. Strangely enough, every morning the workers were unpleasantly surprised to find their work from the previous day completely destroyed. In the end, they resigned themselves to respecting Jean de Toulbodou's wishes and the work was carried out in the planned location.
An enchanting site
Now that you know the history of the chapel, you're ready to discover this little treasure built in a magical place... You'll have to climb the monumental staircase, built in 1700 when the site was first developed, to reach the chapel or the oratory of Saint-Michel.
The bold chapel of Sainte-Barbe
This flamboyant Gothic chapel was built in the 15th century. Very original, it is narrow and compact and has no nave. On the stained glass windows and the shields in the vault, you can see the coats of arms of the Boutteville, Toulbodou and Talhouët families, lords of Priziac.
A hexagonal tower replaces the bell tower. At the top of the tower is a lantern with three windows. Look closely and you'll see a statue of Saint Barbara in one of them !
To find out more about the chapel, don't hesitate to drop in at thetourist office to pick up the dedicated booklet. You'll learn as you play!
And if you're looking for athrill, this little chapel, bravely clinging to the rock, is a spectacular sight at sunrise!
Saint-Michel's oratory and its dangerous game
To reachSaint-Michel's oratory, cross the footbridge built over a majestic arch. Take a short break to admire the view!
Now, take a good look around and imagine that in the past, on the day of forgiveness, pilgrims, penitents or local boys who wanted to show their courage would perform the rite of the ring game... The aim was to walk around the building holding on to iron rings set into the walls, their feet resting in the holes and cracks in the rock face, their bodies in the air! What bravery!
Warning: Don' t repeat this madness! Do not attempt to become "Lord of the Rings"!
The fountain for predicting the future
Below, 500 metres into the woods, the 1708 devotional fountain also has its own ritual, which is much less dangerous than the ring ritual: the tradition of the round-headed pin...
At the bottom of the fountain basin, you can see an opening in the granite slab from which the water that feeds the basin gushes out.
Young girls would throw a round-headed pin or a coin into the fountain, particularly on the day of forgiveness, to find out whether they would get married within the year. Most of the time, these small objects were deflected by the current of the spring, while the unmarried girls hoped that they would fall into the hole, an imperative condition for their wish to come true. Very few of them succeeded! Let's hope for their sake that not all the young men to be married broke their necks trying the ring game!
A not-to-be-missed nature outing
An invigorating family outing
Enough about the past! Today, Sainte-Barbe chapel is a sensational outing for all the family. Descend the large stone steps, continue through the woods to the fountain and then down to the river Ellé. Play hide-and-seek behind the trees, and don't forget to keep your energy up to climb back up the path and stairs to the caretaker's house and the bell tower... It's going to take a lot of energy, but laughter and good humour are guaranteed!
Excursions combining the great outdoors and heritage
It's possible to enjoy the pleasures of an outdoor sporting activity and satisfy your curiosity to discover the built heritage at the same time.
Two hiking trails pass through the Sainte-Barbe site:
- the chapels trail, 12 km
- the Saint-Sébastien circuit, 12 km
If you'd like to discover even more of Le Faouët, there are other routes that will take you to other chapels... You can get the information sheets for these walks from the Tourist Office.
With its history, legends and traditions, the Sainte-Barbe chapel is a must-see! But don't forget that Le Faouët still has plenty of surprises in store for you. Why not discover them by investigatingMarion's Secret? At the Tourist Office, we'll give you the first clues to find out what it's all about...
