Lanmeur - Saint-Mélar

This church in the center of Lanmeur is dedicated to Saint-Mélar. Saint-Mélar was a Breton prince, heir of the Kingdom of Cornouaille in the 6th century, who unfortunately had a very thuggish and ambitious uncle. To get rid of a possible rival the uncle had Saint-Mélar´s right hand and left foot amputated. So the young Prince could neither ride a horse, nor weild a sword. Then he locked the crippled nephew in a monastery, where miracolously a silver hand a bronze foot grew. So to get rid of him, the uncle finally beheaded him. That´s what the legends tell.

The church, erected 1903/04, is a successor of the 12th-century, that had been here before. It was was built over a crypt probably dates back to the 9th or 10th century. The legends tell, that the oxen that were pulling the saint´s body refused to pass this spot and so he was buried right here.

The crypt is only about 2 meters high, two of the eight pillars are bear a bizarre relief. Some art historians see snakes, but most see ferns or even kelp-like algae.