Locronan Things to Do Tips by hquittner

Locronan is an old town (less than 1K pop) established in the 15 C, quickly becoming successful through making sail cloth. In the 17C sturdy granite houses were built and they still stand around the main square next to the church and down the radiating streets. The square also boasts a large central town well. The church, also on the square, is the focus of an annual religious procession, the Tromenie. The church is from the 15-16C and is of granite and houses the tomb and relics of St.Ronan, a 9C Irish hermit who arrived "miraculously". In fact the town bears his name (Loc-ronan). As youwalk you will find several exhibits relating to the town's original trade of weaving.

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The old church is built of granite in Renaissance style and has a stubby central bell tower. To its right is a small Chapel of Penity attached to the main church. Within it are the tomb of St. Ronan and other devotional objects on which the “Pardon Processions” (the Tromenies) center.(See Customs) The church has a central porch entry under a gable before the bell tower. Throughout a mixture of rounded and pointed openings and pinnacles give a pleasant design.

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The gisant of St. Ronan lies in the Chapel surrounded by angels and with an ox at his feet representing their unattended guiding of his funeral cart to the church site. Also in the chapel is a “Deploration” (Lamentation) group in polychrome stone as well as revered 16C stone statues. Note that St. Michel carries a scale containing souls.

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The altar is flanked by patron Saints Corentin and Ronan while behind it is a large excellent stained glass window (1480) with scenes of the Life and Death of Christ. At the end of the aisle to the left is the carved polychrome wood (1668) Retable of the Rosary, a hallmark of the devotion of the citizenry to their faith. Finally there is the pulpit devoted to the sainthood of Ronan. It is of 1707 and bears 10 medallions on its ascending side illustrating his story. Th charming pictures are shown in Customs Tips.

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Stone and wood carving developed rapidly in Brittany, especially because of the very workable Kersanton granite. The church interior is filled with polychrome statues in wood or stone. The liveliness of expression is very notable. The work is in keeping with the immediately succeeding Calvaires seen in nearby town churchyards. Also outstanding is the pulpit dedicated to St. Ronan with 10 carved and painted medallions illustrating his saintly experiences, which explain why he is so revered.

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The story of St. Ronan , the Irish hermit who came to the area in the 9C, is carved into the wood of the pulpit ascent stair in a Louis XIV style. Done in 1707, it is a vivd example of its time It consists of 10 polychromed wood medallions portraying the story. The first medallion at the foot of thes stairs showsSt. Ronan arriving in his boat at the edge of the Nevet forest where he will reside, guided by an Angel. In the second panel, he is dressed as a hermitin his hut and is conversing with a local farmer (who is learning of the Gospels) while his wife nearby, is denouncing the Saint as an agent of the Devil. (She is a shrew and designated by the locals as "la Keban" or she-devil). There ar 10 scenes in all and if you are intersted in the rest of the story, we have illustrated and recited the rest of it in a Travelog jn our Locran pages.

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The story of St. Ronan , the Irish hermit who came to the area in the 9C, is carved into the wood of the pulpit ascent stair in a Louis XIV style. Done in 1707, it is a vivd example of its time It consists of 10 polychromed wood medallions portraying the story. The first medallion at the foot of thes stairs showsSt. Ronan arriving in his boat at the edge of the Nevet forest where he will reside, guided by an Angel. In the second panel, he is dressed as a hermitin his hut and is conversing with a local farmer (who is learning of the Gospels) while his wife nearby, is denouncing the Saint as an agent of the Devil. (She is a shrew and designated by the locals as "la Keban" or she-devil). There ar 10 scenes in all and if you are intersted in the rest of the story, we have illustrated and recited the rest of it in a Travelog jn our Locran pages.

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