Commana

Commana , a common of the department of the Finistere, in the area Brittany, in France.

History

The parish of Commana belonged to the archidiaconé of concerning Leon évêché of Leon and was under the term of Saint Derrien. It had like Trève Saint-Saver.

Monuments

The shady walk of Mougau

The shady walk of Mougau goes back to 3000 av JC. This monument, length 14 meters is composed of juxtaposed granite walls. The horizontal ceiling is made of four flagstones, the fifth recovering the cell in north.

The church

It is at the end of the 16th century that the construction of the parochial enclosure of Commana was undertaken. Initially envisaged at the village of Quillidiec, construction due to be done on a hill with several kilometers from there, because on several occasions the foundations set up during the day were mysteriously dismounted during the night. In these places, during the digging of the foundations, a trough containing a statue of woman with a child on the knees was updated…

Triumphal arch

This monumental, heavy and massive door overhung of three skylights is the principal access to the parochial enclosure. Decorated with mouldings carved in the stone, it sheltered until 1978 two statuettes in the side niches. Formerly, this Triumphal arch was closed of a wrought iron grid dating from the 18th century. It was open only at the time of marriage or of burial in order to let pass the processions, the access to the church usually being done by the steps located on the left of the Triumphal arch.

Ossuary

Once crossed the Triumphal arch, one immediately finds on the left the Ossuary. Gone back to 1677 to 1687, this building is very sober. It does not understand that a door and 4 windows sheltering each one a stoup. Only crossettes and crawling with carved spirals of dragons decorate the frontage.

Martyrdoms

The martyrdoms are two in the enclosure of the parochial enclosure. The first located between the triumphal arch and the porch southern is gone back to 1585, however the cross carries the date of 1742, which lets predict that it replaced a cross dating from the 16th century. Going back to 1624, the second martyrdom is more in the cemetery. It is the work of the sculptor Roland Doré.

Porch

Imposing by its architecture Rebirth, this porch was built as from 1645. Three dates registered in three different places enable us to say that it was built in three great distinct stages (1645, 1650,1653). Its frontage comprises grooved columns, then columns with drums. The buttresses of angles are papered planks. The central niche sheltering the statue of Derrien Saint is overcome by a pediment itself surmounted of a skylight. Inside the porch, twelve niches with posts form a guard of honor leading to two separate doors of a pier with a stoup.

Bell-tower

From where that one comes, one is impressed by this bell-tower, of 57 meters, is perched high on one of the most hills of the Leon, with 262 meters of altitude. Sober, almost severe and austere, the bell-tower of the church of Commana appears arid with the image of the Mounts of Arrée. Supported on eight buttresses, decorated mouldings and cornices, this pointed bell-tower, right amount towards the skies, seems to compete with the roc' H schistous and notched peaks of Arrée. This pointed arrow, stripped of pinnacles, surmounting a massive tower can only impose the respect of an admiring contemplation. The date of 1592 is engraved at the base of the bell-tower.

The Sacristy

Dating from the beginning of the 18th century (1701), the sacristy harmoniously supplements the church while being integrated perfectly into the remainder of the building.

Retables

The retable co. Anne

The retable Sainte Anne is a true chief of work of art Baroque of the 17th century. So complete, precise and illustrated, it is difficult to describe it. However the adjectives miss to qualify it: monumental, masterly… Located in the northern nave of the church, it is 6,20 meters wide and 8 meters in height. It breaks up primarily into 3 parts. In her medium, the Virgin and Holy Anne look at the Jesus child holding in her left hand the terrestrial sphere. Two columns twisted and decorated garlands with vines and foliages, frame this scene. On the keystone making the junction between the two side niches, the blazon of Bouvans, Seigneurs of the Wood of the Rock is. The side niches are framed, each one, of two columns with hollowed out cutting out in which ribbons and foliages were carved. These niches contain St Joseph and St Joachim. Two twisted columns laterally delimit this retable on which there does not remain a free space. Higher, in niches also, the Virgin co. and the Gabriel angel are held. Above the platform, throne our Heavenly Father supported by two angels. At the top of the retable is a Holy Trinity and God the Father holding his son ressuscity. Built in 1682, as shows it the inscriptions appearing on both sides of the gate vault, one cannot define with certainty his source. It is thought nevertheless, that it was made by the building sites of the marine of Recouvrance. Concerning gildings on the other hand, they were carried out in 1691 per Pierre Pierre, main painter and gilder with Huelgoat.

The retable of the 5 wounds and the retable of the Rosary

In addition to the splendid retable of co. Anne, the church of Commana also shelters two other retables not having however the beauty of the first. These two retables are that of the Rosary and that of the Five Wounds. Located at the South of the chorus, these two retables are based on the same architectural diagram as the retable co. Anne (a central scene, framed of two niches, the whole placed under the glance of our Heavenly Father).

In the central part of the retable of the Rosary, one notices the statues of the Virgin and the Jesus child offering the rosary to co. Dominique and co. Catherine of His. The two side niches contain the statues of St Joachim and St Joseph. Below these niches, appears a knelt father and a mother, introducing their child to the Virgin co.

The central niche of the retable of the Five Wounds introduces the sitted Lord showing his wounds. At its sides, two crowned angels of pinks hold a crown of spines and nails. In the side niches St Sebastien and co. Marguerite are. Gone back to 1852, the woodworks of these retables were restored in 1977 for those of the retable of the Five Wounds and in 1979 for those of the Rosary. The resemblance of this last, with the figureheads of the ships of the time leaves think that, as for the retable Sainte Anne, it is resulting from the building sites of the marine of Brest.

The Baptistry

As the tradition wants it, the baptismal font, dating from the 18th century, is located in the North-western angle of the church. The baptismal tank, gone back to 1656, is laid out in the middle of a column grooved, decorated gadroons and surmounted by a baldachin out of wooden with five sides carried by five pilasters to which the two cardinal virtues and the three theological virtues are leant. Above the baldachin, balusters support the overhung dome of the statue of Jesus holding the cross, supported of three caryatids. This last work goes back to 1683 and is the work of Douaré Tillot, main sculptor with Recouvrance, which was committed in 1682 crowning of a dome, the baptismal bottom then without cover. the Statues As in many churches, a great number of statues decorate the pillars and the walls. Let us quote for example Sainte Catherine and the Virgin on the Northern wall; Saint Bernard above the door of the sacristy, or Holy Yves and Saint Roch in the nave.

Events

Births

Death

External bonds

the parochial enclosure by the text and the image
Inventory of the inheritance
Site of the commune
Fair of Commana

See too

Movement druidic Kredenn Geltiek Hollvedel

More:

the small train Rosporden-Plouescat , Annick Fleitour, Editions Undertow, Quimper, 2001. small railway line to narrow gauge railway which served Commana of 1912 to 1935

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