Lanouée: Churches, Chapels and Historic Crosses

If you are looking for a hotel in Lanouée and are interested in the history of religious architecture, its churches, chapels and historic crosses offer a tangible theme to explore. These include the Chapelle Saint-Mélec in Pomeleuc and the Église Saint-Pierre, complemented by several cross monuments. Their construction and furnishing histories span dates from the Middle Ages to objects from the 18th century. When planning your trip, it is helpful to distinguish between the age of a building and the dates of its furnishings, as they do not necessarily belong to the same period.

Chapelle Saint-Mélec in Pomeleuc

The Chapelle Saint-Mélec is in the village of Pomeleuc in Lanouée, 56120 Forges de Lanouée. It is also known as Notre Dame des fleurs or Chapelle de Pomeleuc. The building dates from 1220, was restored in 1639 and extended in the 18th century. These dates mark several stages in its history: an early construction date followed by a restoration and, later, an extension.

The chapel also houses a reliquary arm of Saint Mélec, made of pewter and wood. It is dated to the late 14th or early 15th century. The reliquary arm therefore belongs to a different period from the date attributed to the chapel building. Visitors interested in historical objects will find not only the history of the building here, but also a separately dated piece whose materials and attribution are specifically identified.

Église Saint-Pierre: Construction History and Furnishings

The Église Saint-Pierre also spans several centuries: it dates from the 12th and 15th centuries and was restored in the 19th century. Its furnishings include three wooden altarpieces from the 17th century and an 18th-century wrought-iron choir screen. The screen is apparently attributed to Eustache Roussin. The church’s construction phases can be distinguished from the later-dated furnishings. The wooden altarpieces and wrought-iron choir screen represent different materials and periods.

Historic Crosses in Lanouée

The cross monuments can also be distinguished by their names and locations. The Calvaire de Pomeleuc is a 16th-century calvary cross near the chapel. The Calvaire Saint-André stands in the upper part of the Bourg de Lanouée; the municipality restored it in April 2014. In Fossac, the Croix du Chemin Creux is a heritage cross dating from the 16th century in Lanouée. Two of the crosses are therefore dated to the 16th century, while the restoration date provides a different point of reference for the Calvaire Saint-André.

Landscape and Getting Around

The broader landscape is part of the municipality of Forges de Lanouée. To the north, the 3,800-hectare Forest of Lanouée forms a natural boundary; to the south, the Nantes-Brest Canal serves the same purpose. The canal was built along the bed of the Oust River. The forest and waterway thus represent two different natural boundaries of the municipality, complementing the historic buildings with a sense of the surrounding landscape.

If you would like to include hikes in your stay, hiking maps are available at Lanouée town hall and at the Ploërmel Communauté tourist office. These two outlets offer a practical starting point for planning. Alongside the churches, chapels and crosses, you can also find practical information about hiking to help plan your trip.

Discover more destinations: Le Moustoir, Saint-Tugdual, Merlevenez, Sarzeau, Pluherlin, Monterblanc, Port-Louis, Pleugriffet

For the broader travel overview: Morbihan.