Church, Parish Enclosure and Ossuary of Lampaul-Guimilau

The parish close is the religious space which is dedicated to the passer-by, to all comers. It allows the illiterate to understand the strong and important moments of the Catholic religion.

It is still located in the village, in the center of the parish. We say enclosed, because always closed and surrounded by a wall. In central Brittany, we always find this triptych associated: church, ossuary and parish enclosure.

The ossuary is also a Breton particularity: it is an openwork granite monument where the skulls, shins and various bones of the dead are carefully stored. A stylish way to make room in the cemetery. Some ossuaries are filled, others have been emptied of their contents.

The parish enclosure of Lampaul-Guimillau is absolutely remarkable. You can see the many character details of the statues.

It is an art that is both naive and severe. It's a bit like a comic book but sculpted. A real architectural and religious treasure of the rich Breton culture.

This enclosure is nicknamed "the tanners' enclosure". In 1780, there were more than 146 tanneries in the commune. The profits from this activity enabled the construction of this enclosure and the exceptional brilliance of its sculptures.

The parish is a clearly delimited ensemble of coordinated buildings, the religious center of which is the Calvaire. The parish grounds are entered through the triumphal gate, often via a high stone slab that is set in vertically and can only be overcome by a large step. It offers the dead protection from demons and eternal damnation and still makes it clear today that one is entering a special place. Ossuary resulted from the fact that the cemeteries were very limited in space. If they became too small, the bones of those who had long since died were dug up and kept in an ossuary.