The syle of the Pont-Croix school 

Where is it found in the chapel? 

The oldest part (12th-13th century) is the side aisle of the five half-circle arches reminiscent of the Romanesque style. The pillars, all different, are composed of thin joined columns and capitals of different shapes that are decorated with stylized or geometric plant motifs. This is the part of the chapel directly inspired by the Pont-Croix school. There are traces of two ancient arches of the same style on the wall of the nave which went through transformations in following centuries. 

The origins

The definite origin of this style is not really known. The name was probably given by Notre Dame de Roscudon, the collegiate church in Pont-Croix. Another possibility is the chapel of Languidou in Plovan. This style is found in a large number of churches and chapels in Cap-Sizun and Bigouden regions. 

A regional style

No archives allow us to understand the influence of the Pont-Croix school style on edifices found in these neighboring regions. Is it the work of one architect or different masters following the same ideas? Or of a guild of workers versed in Pontecruxian techniques? Any hypotheses are based on observation and comparison. So we have the pleasure of discovering these elements which are both typical and specific to each monument. 

The map below shows the locations of the most emblematic buildings of this style. 

The building reflecting the Pont-Croix style clearly outline the boundaries of two former deaneries of the bishopric of Cornouaille : the deanery of Cap-Sizun and that of Cap Caval (an old name for a part of Bigouden country), Two ‘countries’ sharing cultural unity. 

Follow the map to explore these edifices. Each edifice will reveal its secrets and its character.