ST. STEPHEN'S CATHEDRAL
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Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Saint-Brieuc, featuring a restored axial chapel with colorful neo-Gothic decorations
Built from the 13th century on former marshland, the cathedral was partly constructed on stilts. The current monument is a mixture of styles: built over time and through history, it was completed in the 18th century. A stopover on the Tro Breizh, it is one of the few fortified churches in Brittany, with its two defensive towers. The "grande dame de pierre", as it was nicknamed by Brioche writer Louis Guilloux, reflects the town's history. Besieged and burnt down, the cathedral suffered many setbacks in the 14th century, during the War of Succession that shook Brittany. Restoration and extension work continued throughout the 15th century. The cathedral was once again plundered during the religious wars of the League (1589-1598). Inside, don't miss the baptismal font (15th century), and the Annunciation altarpiece in the Blessed Sacrament chapel, a masterpiece of Baroque art by the Trégorrois sculptor Yves Corlay (18th century). The Cavaillé-Coll organ, built in 1848, is housed in a magnificent case dating back to 1540. The cathedral has benefited from a major renovation program, which has restored it to its former glory. The stones were cleaned to restore their whiteness, and the cement joints were replaced by traditional lime joints. The axial chapel has been restored to its 19th-century glory, with its colorful neo-Gothic decorations: blue star vaults sit alongside pillars repainted with floral or spiral motifs.
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