Church art and historic crosses give Lanouée a clearly defined cultural focus: at the Église Saint-Pierre, the building’s phases and furnishings take center stage, while the Chapelle Saint-Mélec brings together its own architectural history and a distinctive reliquary object. Several crosses, each associated with a different location, round out the picture. For context, it is worth considering the buildings, furnishings, and restoration as separate historical layers; at the level of the commune, the forest and canal add to the view of the landscape.

The Church and Its Furnishings Through the Ages

The Église Saint-Pierre is a church dating from the 12th and 15th centuries, and it was restored in the 19th century. Its furnishings mark different periods: three wooden altarpieces date from the 17th century; an 18th-century wrought-iron choir screen is apparently attributed to Eustache Roussin. An altarpiece is a structure behind an altar, while a choir screen separates the choir area from the rest of the church. These terms help distinguish the different functions and materials of the furnishings: the altarpieces belong to the altar area, while the screen divides the church interior. To put them in context, it is worth considering the building’s history, restoration, and furnishings separately: the 19th century refers to the church’s restoration, not to the creation of the altarpieces or the choir screen.

The Chapelle Saint-Mélec and Its Reliquary Arm

The Chapelle Saint-Mélec dates back to 1220, was restored in 1639, and was extended in the 18th century. It is also known as Notre Dame des fleurs and Chapelle de Pomeleuc. The chapel is in the village of Pomeleuc in Lanouée, 56120 Forges de Lanouée. Inside is a reliquary arm of Saint Mélec, made of pewter and wood and dating from the late 14th or early 15th century. Several dates therefore come together in one religious building: 1220, 1639, and the 18th-century extension describe the building’s history, while the date for the reliquary arm refers to the object itself. This distinction helps prevent the chapel’s history from being reduced to a single date of origin.

Three Crosses, Different Locations

The cross monuments can be distinguished by their locations and the dates recorded for them. The Calvaire de Pomeleuc is a 16th-century Calvary cross near the chapel in Lanouée. The Calvaire Saint-André stands in the upper part of the Bourg de Lanouée; the commune restored it in April 2014. This date refers to the restoration, not to when the cross was created. In Fossac is the Croix du Chemin Creux, a heritage cross dating from the 16th century. Thus, of the cultural highlights, two crosses are dated to the 16th century, while the municipal restoration of another is documented as having taken place in April 2014.

Landscape and Practical Information

At the level of the commune of Forges de Lanouée, natural features frame the landscape: to the north, the 3,800-hectare Lanouée Forest marks a boundary, while to the south, the Nantes-Brest Canal serves the same role. The canal was built along the bed of the Oust River. This geographical perspective complements the buildings with a broader view of the commune. Hiking maps are available from Lanouée town hall and the Ploërmel Communauté tourist office; both are practical places to get information for planning your hikes.

Discover more destinations: Locminé, Quéven, Moustoir-Ac, Ambon, Lizio, Merlevenez, Saint-Avé, Brignac.

For the broader travel overview: Morbihan.