Lampaul-Guimiliau Parish close, 16th-century parish close in Lampaul-Guimiliau, France.
The parish close of Lampaul-Guimiliau is a walled complex centred on the church of Notre-Dame, built in the 16th and 17th centuries. Its rough grey stone tower, truncated by lightning in 1809, stands beside a lower section with a large traceried window and a roofline balustrade carrying a crucifix and two smaller crosses. Inside, a pointed wooden barrel vault rests on dark timber ribs above a flagstone aisle, with slender stone columns forming pointed arches and a carved altarpiece before the chevet window.
Notre-Dame was built in the 16th and 17th centuries within its parish close. In 1809 lightning truncated the bell tower, which had been comparable in height to that of the Kreisker chapel at Saint-Pol-de-Léon. In 1875 the entire roof frame was replaced with modern timbers, except for the rood beam. The church was listed as a monument historique in 1910, and the close, with its triumphal arch, cross and funerary chapel, in 1914.
The 16th-century rood beam, classed as a monument in 1910, hangs above the aisle between nave and choir. On the nave side angels collect Christ's blood and Passion scenes are carved; on the choir side the Sibyls, priestesses of Apollo, flank the Annunciation group. The parish close also holds banners of 1658 given by the Confraternity of the Holy Sacrament, one showing Saint Miliau as a prince of Cornouaille.
The site is easily walked on foot and allows visitors to view all buildings and calvaries from ground level without climbing or physical challenges. The best time to visit is during daylight hours when the detail of carvings and windows is most visible.
The 1658 banners were donated by the Confraternity of the Holy Sacrament; one shows Saint Miliau as a prince of Cornouaille. Two later banners, Sainte Anne and Un Calvaire, were made by Pierre Toulhoat in 1992.
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