Quéménéven. The Chapel of Kergoat is an object of pilgrimage, and the Pardon there is very greatly thronged, and interesting costumes may be seen there. The P. is on the Sunday after August 15.
S. Venec, a chapel half-way between Quimper and Châteaulin, is interesting. It contains a statue of the Threebreasted Gwen, and of her sons, Gwethenoc, represented as a Knight, and Winwaloe. There are also here a good Calvary and a pretty Holy Well.
Ergué Gaberic. A fine menhir. A chapel of the Templars. The P. at Kerdevot is greatly frequented. It is on the 2nd Sunday in September.
Pluguffan. Only deserving of a visit on the occasion of its Pardon, which is on the 2nd Sunday in September, where fine costumes may be seen.
* QUIMPERLÉ (F.) chl. d'arr. An interesting and picturesque town on the Laïta formed of the junction of the Ellé and the Isole. The abbey church of Ste. Croix and the town about it is in the basin, but the Church of S. Michel and the upper town is on the hillside with steep streets, some ascended by steps. The buildings of the abbey have been converted into municipal offices and Mairie. The church is circular and Romanesque. A tower had been constructed on the four central drums, but they showed signs of giving way, and the tower had to be taken down and the church rebuilt, but exactly on the ancient lines. There is a crypt beneath the lady-chapel. The carved corbels outside the apse are curious. A fine renaissance retable has been mutilated and plastered against the west wall. In the crypt is the tomb of S. Gurlois. S. Michel stands up boldly on the summit of the hill, on the right side of the Laïta, sustained on massive substructures. The nave is 2nd pointed. There are no aisles to the nave. The grand central tower and choir with its aisles are flamboyant. There is an exquisite window of that style on the N. side and a superb N. porch, but the E. window is in very bad renaissance. The east end is supported on two huge buttresses that are pierced with arches for the roadway. The west end of the church is built against, with houses, and does not seem ever to have had a western entrance.
Some quaint bits of street architecture may be found by penetrating into the narrow lanes. The Church of S. Columbanus is in ruins. A pretty walk out of the town leads to the little chapel of the Château of Rosgrande, with apse at each end. It contains a renaissance roodscreen, with subjects from sacred history and pagan mythology indiscriminately carved on it. In the chapel are two 14th cent. statues of S. Cadoc and S. Yhuel, the grandson of Gildas, afterwards Bishop of Llandaff, who spent his youth in Brittany. Fishing and charming walks are to be had in the valleys of the Ellé and Isolle. The visitor will find this the best headquarters for excursions to Le Faouët, 21 kilometres, and down the river to Pouldu. Patronal Feast at Quimperlé on the 2nd Sunday in May and on the 3rd September. P. at Lothea, Easter Tuesday and Trinity Sunday. Pardon des Oiseaux at Toulfouen, Whitsun Monday.
QUIMPERLÉ
The forest of Clohars-Carnoet envelops the ruins of one of Conmore's castles, but it was rebuilt in the 15th cent. On the right bank of the Laïta, in a sheltered position, are the fine ruins of the Abbey of S. Maurice, founded in 1170. The chapter house is of the 14th cent. and 15th cent. A chapel that has been restored contains a good bronze Christ of the 17th cent. P. Whitsun Monday. P. at Clohars on the 15th August.