In Le Faouët, Morbihan, Chapelle Sainte-Barbe surprises visitors with its position: this Gothic sanctuary is built into the rocky slope, above the Ellé valley. It is reached by descending a series of stone steps that are as much a part of the outing as the building itself.
A chapel born from a vow
According to local tradition, Lord Jehan de Toulbodou, caught in a storm and rockfall, promised a sanctuary to Saint Barbara if he survived. Work began in 1489 and the vaults were completed in 1512. Around the chapel, a separate bell tower, a sloping path and the 1708 devotional fountain extend the discovery.
Planning your visit in 2026
The chapel is advertised as open from 1 September to 31 October 2026, Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–12:00 and 14:00–18:00. From Les Halles, follow chemin de Sainte-Barbe and the steps, over an approach of around 1.6 km; suitable footwear is useful and the many steps make this route poorly suited to pushchairs. A road also reaches the plateau from the direction of Gourin.
For those who enjoy combining architecture and landscape, the path continues down towards the fountain and the banks of the Ellé.
