Saint-Thégonnec
Encyclopedia
Saint-Thégonnec is a commune
in the Finistère
department in Brittany
in northwestern France
.
The village is noted for its very elaborate parish close
, one of a number in the area, which include Guimiliau
and Lampaul-Guimiliau
.
on 25 March 2005.
is an enclosed area around the parish church, including the church yard and a number of other features.
In common with others in the area, the Saint-Thégonnec close features a large ceremonial entrance arch, stressing the importance of the close as a focus for pilgrimage and pardons
. An impressive calvary
or crucifix
forms the focus of the church yard. As at nearby Lampaul-Guimiliau
, there is a separate charnel house
or ossuary
, with a life-sized tableau of the Entombment of Christ.
The interior of the church is exemplary of the local version of Baroque
style, with a large quantity of polychrome
sculpture and decoration, including a spectacular pulpit
.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Finistère
Finistère
Finistère is a département of France, in the extreme west of Brittany.-History:The name Finistère derives from the Latin Finis Terræ, meaning end of the earth, and may be compared with Land's End on the opposite side of the English Channel...
department in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
in northwestern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The village is noted for its very elaborate parish close
Parish close
Parish close is a translation of the French term enclos paroissial. It refers to a number of locations Brittany, mainly though not exclusively in the historic diocese of Léon, corresponding roughly to the northern half of the département of Finistère, in Brittany...
, one of a number in the area, which include Guimiliau
Guimiliau
Guimiliau is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.It is noted for its parish close. It should not be confused with the neighbouring commune and village of Lampaul-Guimiliau.-Population:...
and Lampaul-Guimiliau
Lampaul-Guimiliau
Lampaul-Guimiliau is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.It is noted for its parish close.-Etymology:...
.
Population
Inhabitants of Saint-Thégonnec are called Saint-Thégonnecois.Breton language
The municipality launched a linguistic plan through Ya d'ar brezhonegYa d'ar brezhoneg
Ya d'ar brezhoneg is a campaign launched by the Ofis ar Brezhoneg in order to stimulate the use of the Breton language in daily life in Brittany, western France. In the first phase, started on 5 October 2001, civil society was targeted. Over 560 enterprises and organisations have signed the...
on 25 March 2005.
Parish close
A parish closeParish close
Parish close is a translation of the French term enclos paroissial. It refers to a number of locations Brittany, mainly though not exclusively in the historic diocese of Léon, corresponding roughly to the northern half of the département of Finistère, in Brittany...
is an enclosed area around the parish church, including the church yard and a number of other features.
In common with others in the area, the Saint-Thégonnec close features a large ceremonial entrance arch, stressing the importance of the close as a focus for pilgrimage and pardons
Pardon (ceremony)
A Pardon is a typically Breton form of pilgrimage and one of the most traditional demonstrations of popular Catholicism in Brittany. Of very ancient origin, probably dating back to the conversion of the country by the Celtic monks, it is comparable to the parades associated with Saint Patrick's Day...
. An impressive calvary
Calvary
Calvary or Golgotha was the site, outside of ancient Jerusalem’s early first century walls, at which the crucifixion of Jesus is said to have occurred. Calvary and Golgotha are the English names for the site used in Western Christianity...
or crucifix
Crucifix
A crucifix is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus , as distinct from a cross with no body....
forms the focus of the church yard. As at nearby Lampaul-Guimiliau
Lampaul-Guimiliau
Lampaul-Guimiliau is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.It is noted for its parish close.-Etymology:...
, there is a separate charnel house
Charnel house
A charnel house is a vault or building where human skeletal remains are stored. They are often built near churches for depositing bones that are unearthed while digging graves...
or ossuary
Ossuary
An ossuary is a chest, building, well, or site made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains. They are frequently used where burial space is scarce. A body is first buried in a temporary grave, then after some years the skeletal remains are removed and placed in an ossuary...
, with a life-sized tableau of the Entombment of Christ.
The interior of the church is exemplary of the local version of Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style, with a large quantity of polychrome
Polychrome
Polychrome is one of the terms used to describe the use of multiple colors in one entity. It has also been defined as "The practice of decorating architectural elements, sculpture, etc., in a variety of colors." Polychromatic light is composed of a number of different wavelengths...
sculpture and decoration, including a spectacular pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
.