Église Saint-Herlé de Ploaré, church located in Finistère, in France

Église Saint-Herlé de Ploaré is a Gothic church in Douarnenez with a tall spire rising from a square tower and a nave of five bays with side aisles, a transept and a polygonal chevet. The interior has a blue star-painted ribbed vault ceiling supported by pointed arches and octagonal pillars. The west portal is decorated with elaborate leafy carvings and shells in the buttress niches.

Construction began around 1548, as an inscription once visible at the base of the tower recorded, and the spire was built in stages during the 17th century. The tower and spire were rebuilt several times, probably after partial destruction by lightning, notably in 1751, when two pinnacles were struck down and rebuilt on a smaller scale by Paul Le Favennec of Pleyben. The church was classified as a monument historique in 1910.

Saint-Herlé Church bears the name of its patron saint from Breton tradition. It remains an active gathering place for the local community, serving both religious celebrations and as a connection point to the region's spiritual heritage.

The church sits centrally in Douarnenez and is easily accessible on foot, with the main entrance positioned on the south side beneath a protective porch. The building remains active for worship services, so it is advisable to check opening times before visiting, especially if you wish to explore the interior spaces.

A 16th-century bas-relief on the church shows a seagull catching a fish, close in inspiration to the carving on the facade of the nearby Chapelle Sainte-Hélène. The stained glass window of 1902 depicts the preacher Michel Le Nobletz leaving Douarnenez before his weeping followers.