Quimper to Sizun

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A wonderful week at Gouesn’ach, near Quimper, was over and we set off for Sizun in dreadful weather.

The motorway between Quimper & Brest

Then, shopping done at Landivisiau, we wandered to Sizun via the back roads through Locmélar (more later) to Loc Ildut because I had noticed a cross on the map. The Chapel of St Ildut, 17C, is completely isolated – it is not part of a village yet across the small road is what used to be Le Relais des Dilegences, dating from a time when this used to be a stage on the public road from Landerneau to Angers.

Loc Ildut - the former Relais des Diligences
Loc Ildut – the former Relais des Diligences
The Chapel of Loc Ildut
The Chapel of Loc Ildut

The carvings are fine and the date over the doorway seems to be 1677. The Chapel is in an area made wealthy by the linen trade and this may explain the quality of the work. Is this an image of the saint over the doorway? Ildut was a monk who, interestingly, went to Wales in the 5C where he founded a monastery and a college in Llanwit Major. (I sense a visit to Wales…)The Chapel of Loc Ildut, with the saint over the doorway?

The Chapel of Loc Ildut

There are two fountains at the Chapel, the one with carvings which I can’t quite make out. And it seemed as if the water was canalised – look at the channels below. The Chapel was associated with miraculous healings, perhaps because of the fountains, and this may explain why they are elaborate, and why there are two.

One of the fountains at the Chapel of Loc Ildut One of the fountains at the Chapel of Loc Ildut

One of the fountains at the Chapel of Loc Ildut

The Chapel fell into disuse and disrepair, but since the 1960s local interest has revived and it has an annual Pardon which is on the last Sunday in July every year.Sadly the Chapel was locked. Perhaps it was the rain and the grey sky, but this was a place with ‘character’.

The Chapel of Loc Ildut

The Chapel of Loc Ildut

Further information
St Ildut
The Chapel of St Ildut
A bibliography for St Ildut

 

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