Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Kerfons

The chapel of Notre-Dame de Kerfons or rather ‘Kerfaouès’ (‘the place planted with beech trees’) was founded on the lands of the ancient fiefdom of Coatfrec, the ruins of whose castle of the same name stand further north on the west bank of the River Léguer. It was rebuilt in the first quarter of the 15th century after its destruction during the War of Succession of the Duchy of Brittany and remodelled by Guillaume de Penhoêt after the lordship of Coëtfrec became a barony on 13 June 1451.

This rural chapel is astonishing for the way it combines two architectural styles: the flamboyant Gothic style of the nave and north chapel and the early Breton Renaissance style visible in the south arm (chapel dedicated to Saint-Yves) dating from 1553-1559.

Built for the powerful de Goulaine family, it illustrates in stone an avant-garde decorative vocabulary: a semi-circular door framed by columns topped by a triangular pediment, modern and simple window designs, turret-shaped buttresses, niches with statues and an original square bell tower flanked by four figures. Notre-Dame de Kerfons has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1910.

Although there are still a dozen wooden rood screens in Brittany, the one in the chapel is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable in terms of its openwork woodwork and polychrome decoration. Undated, it is generally accepted to date from 1485, due to its style and the techniques used, as well as the gothic style of the 15 sculptures that adorn it.

The rostrum is decorated with fifteen panels representing, in addition to the twelve apostles, Saint Barbara, Saint Magdalene and the Risen Christ.
Above the gallery are statues of the Virgin and Saint John, between which was a statue of Christ that disappeared in 1907.
The rood screen has five pointed arches separated by twisted columns. The central archway opens onto a clerestory door.

Its originality also lies in the fact that it has retained a spiral staircase. The furnishings include several fine statues, including an Annunciation, a 17th-century high altar and a 17th-century altarpiece.
This flamboyant Gothic rood screen has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1899.

2 permanent exhibitions present
- The rood screens of Brittany in 5 panels (inside on the side of the chapel)
- Restoration work in 2020 and 2021 in 17 panels with before and after photos (outside).