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Saint-Méen-le-Grand

Ille-et-Vilaine (35)

Eglise Saint-Méen

Saint-Méen-le-Grand

The name Méen (Mewan) is pronounced like the French word for hand, "main", so pilgrims used to wear a hand-shaped piece of cloth sewn on their clothes or hat. The former abbey church dedicated to St Méen is of Romanesque origin: a wall and the tower date to the 12th century. The chancel and chevet are Gothic (13th century). The former chapter house, next to the north wall of the nave, is decorated with wall paintings relating the life and death of St Méen

West façade
West façade
Romanesque tower and Gothic chevet
Romanesque tower and Gothic chevet
West door
West door
P - Ground plan of the church and location of the wall paintings
P - Ground plan of the church and location of the wall paintings
Nave and chancel
Nave and chancel
On e of the numerous tombstones
On e of the numerous tombstones

THE WALL PAINTINGS

General view of the chapter house and wall paintings
General view of the chapter house and wall paintings

Meen: also known as Maine; Mavenus; Mevenus; Mewan. Born in Gwent (Wales), disciple of Saint Samson. Latin name "Mevennus", from Breton "mau" (young). Celebrated on 21 June . Invoked for brain diseases. Followed Saint Samson from Wales to Brittany in 545, accompanied by his godson Saint Austol. Evangelized the Broceliande district. Founded the monastery of Gael that was later named for him.

Upper register: St Meen causes water to spring from a miraculous fountain after founding the monastery of Gael
Upper register: St Meen causes water to spring from a miraculous fountain after founding the monastery of Gael

Lower register: St Meen is returning from a pilgrimage to Rome (left); he is stopped by monks from Angers (centre); the monks ask him to found a monastery (right)

Upper register: St Samson, wearing a mitre (right) sends St Meen on a mission
Upper register: St Samson, wearing a mitre (right) sends St Meen on a mission

Lower register: (centre) the woman from Angers beseeches St Meen to rid her domain of a monstrous serpent. On the right, one of the Saint's foundations; the left panel is illegible

St Meen and the woman from Angers
St Meen and the woman from Angers
Foundation of St Meen
Foundation of St Meen
Upper register: Judicael (St Judicael, king of Armorica 615-615 and 632-634 abdicated and became a monk, he died in 650) escapes from the court of Haeloch (Haeloch: king of Dommonée 610-615) and takes refuge with St Meen.
Upper register: Judicael (St Judicael, king of Armorica 615-615 and 632-634 abdicated and became a monk, he died in 650) escapes from the court of Haeloch (Haeloch: king of Dommonée 610-615) and takes refuge with St Meen.
Lower register: Death of St Meen
Lower register: Death of St Meen
St Meen bids his disciples farewell
St Meen bids his disciples farewell
Death of St Meen
Death of St Meen
The body of his godson, Austole, who died shortly after, is placed in the saint's tomb
The body of his godson, Austole, who died shortly after, is placed in the saint's tomb

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Location and nearby churches

  1. Langast 36 km
  2. Mont-Dol 53 km
  3. Langon 56 km
  4. Redon 60 km
  5. Roe 87 km
  6. Bourgneuf 90 km

See on the full map · OpenStreetMap