Guimiliau Things to Do

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There is another important Altar, that of the Rosary. This must be a particular manifestation of Breton religious worship as we do not remeber seeing these altars elswhere and we haven seen them in almost every Breton church, All are framed in circular medallions with scenes to enhance the sequence of the recitation, The centers illustrate the magnificence of the sacred object. In this one the Trinity is pictured at the top. The organ case has delicately carved panelsand the top of the Baptistry cover has figures of the Baptism of Jesus.

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The interior has many furnishings and altars that feature fine examples of Breton woodcarving skill. There are the organ case, the pulpit and a large number of wooden altarpieces. (Church woodworking art during the 16-17C appears in enormous amounts all over Europe along side of plaster work as part of the Baroque and then sublimates itself into furniture and other outlets as the patronage shifts to royalty and the rich). Along the North wall is a pair of altars, the left one featuring St.Miliau and his exploits. Nearby is a large carved covered Baptistry font. Behind the main altar is a large stained glass window of 1600 with a Calvary scene. (There is so much that we have created another Tip to finish and show a few fine details)

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Itis surprising tifjnd such an elaborate entry to a church in a small poor town (pop. 700), even more with such a fine Calvary next to it. The first thing that strikes you is the large rounded recessed entry arches and their well carved voussoirs, like a Gothic cathedral. Then on the buttresses there is a series of saintly statues culminating with one of St. Miliau above the pediment (which we did not photograph as closeups). Inside the porch under elaborately carved canopies stand the 12 Apostles each bearing an identifying attribute (note St. James with his Pilgrim Hat and cockle shell). Entry to the church is through a pair of double-arched doors with a primitive Jesus and others above. Before entering go around to the west and immediately see an old ossuary (looking like a laundry pool)and then on to the west front where there is a door remaining from the original church.(There are so many nice details of the porch that it requires a second Tip)

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The Carving skills range from crude to fine.Much of the work on the voussoirs is as good as that on the Calvary and the Apostles are as fine. A cruder and earlier phase is seen in the freize below the Apostles (dated1606) where the Birth of Eve from Adam's side is depicted or on the freize below the outside ossuary.

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We entered the Close through a gate to reveal a 16C church with a tall tower and a prominent South Porch that had a rounded doorway with recessed arches. These and 4 gabled bays with large windows forming a nave were evidences of a 17C Flamboyant Renaissance remodelling. Nearer to us was the famous Calvary. To our right beyond the east end of the church was an ossuary of 1647 of similar style and beyond that the cemetery.

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The main reason to go to Guimiliau is to visit its enclos paroissial, with the richest calvaire of the whole Bretagne: more than 200 statues! It is formed by:
1) the église de Saint-Miliau;
2) the calvaire (see more photos in the travelogue;
3) the sacristy;
4) the charnel house.

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When you come out of the church, ask the guide where you can see the woman with the naked breast. Here she is! It's a very curious sculpture for a church, isn't it?
The second pic show other decorations that must be inside the church.

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The three altar-pieces of the choir are certainly the most important art works of the church. The first represents Saint-Miliau, while the other two show Christ, the Madonna and saints.
The last two pictures depict a cross and the statue of a saint with two decorated columns.