The mysterious church of Lanleff
The ruined Romanesque church of Lanleff is often called “The Temple of Lanleff”.
The wildest theories have been formed about this pink sandstone structure, for human mind has always been attracted by the wondrous and (apparently) unexplainable. Conspiracy theories often appeal to the less educated, because they do not know.
Thus, the unusual circular shape prompted such unlikely attributions as a Roman or Gaulish temple, a Merovingian baptistry or a Templar church (hence the name “Temple”, even though the presence of Knights Templar in this particular area was never documented in any way).
More down-to-Earth, it is, in fact, a Romanesque church from the 1100s, maybe slightly older, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. From related writings, we know it was built after 1061, but before 1148, when it was donated to the abbey of Léhon (and was therefore fully built, or almost).
Designed in homage to the Holy Sepulcher church in Jerusalem (like the Sainte–Croix abbey church in Quimperlé), it is a magnificent and very atmospheric ruin, even though it has nothing to do with UFOs. ;o))
The mysterious church of Lanleff
The ruined Romanesque church of Lanleff is often called “The Temple of Lanleff”.
The wildest theories have been formed about this pink sandstone structure, for human mind has always been attracted by the wondrous and (apparently) unexplainable. Conspiracy theories often appeal to the less educated, because they do not know.
Thus, the unusual circular shape prompted such unlikely attributions as a Roman or Gaulish temple, a Merovingian baptistry or a Templar church (hence the name “Temple”, even though the presence of Knights Templar in this particular area was never documented in any way).
More down-to-Earth, it is, in fact, a Romanesque church from the 1100s, maybe slightly older, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. From related writings, we know it was built after 1061, but before 1148, when it was donated to the abbey of Léhon (and was therefore fully built, or almost).
Designed in homage to the Holy Sepulcher church in Jerusalem (like the Sainte–Croix abbey church in Quimperlé), it is a magnificent and very atmospheric ruin, even though it has nothing to do with UFOs. ;o))