Open the door of the Church of St Germain in Pleyben and walk into an imposing, dim interior, filled with statues and carvings and a striking barrel-vaulted ceiling with carved and painted beams and sablières or stringbeams (or sandpits as translated by Google!)
The organ of 1693 was built by Thomas Dallam and the organ case is by Michel Madé of Morlaix. Both have been restored. It seems that Dallam and Madé worked together on several occasions.
The ceiling is magnificent and on the sablières, carved in 1570s, there are apparently 250 figures on the themes of death, the life of Christ, fantasy, prophecy, and greed. But there are also activities from everyday life, like ploughing. They are the work of a local man and I find them rather more crude that the carvings in other churches, such as La Martyre, or Sizun.
Statues line the pillars of the church, including a statue of the Breton rather than establishment saint, St Eloi.
Do make sure you visit Pleyben when you are in Brittany!
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