Chapelle Sainte-Barbe du Faouët, Gothic chapel in Le Faouët, France

Chapelle Sainte-Barbe du Faouët is a Flamboyant Gothic chapel built from 1489 to 1512 on a platform 178 metres above sea level on the flank of Roc'h ar marc'h bran, overlooking the Ellé. A monumental Renaissance stairway of 1700 with four flights and Louis XIII balustrades climbs from the parvis to the esplanade; the chapel has a single bay and apse, with a south-west entrance and a 78-step stair leading to an ossuary with three twin bays.

Construction started in 1489 following Jean de Toulbodou's survival of a lightning strike, one of the founding patrons. The Gothic stone vaults were completed in 1512, establishing the structure that stands today.

The chapel is named after Saint Barbara, protector against lightning, reflecting its origin tied to divine rescue. Visitors notice the heraldic shields of the noble families who sponsored its construction.

Access requires climbing a series of stone steps, so visitors should wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for uneven ground. The exposed rocky location means the surroundings can become slippery, especially during wet weather.

The spring below the chapel, enclosed in a square walled court in 1708, holds a statue of Saint Barbara that was beheaded during the Revolution. Local custom had young women throw a needle with a rounded tip into the water: if it fell into the hole beneath the spring, they would marry within the year.