Saint Roch Chapel

This chapel in the Pluherlin trêve was built in 1527, following a vow made by the population, decimated by the plague. The communes of Pluherlin, Malansac and Saint-Gravé donated a lot of wood and various materials, in the hope of later invoking Saint Roch during epidemics. In 1793, it was destroyed by revolutionary leader François Le Batteux, who distinguished himself as head of the “infernal column”, spreading terror from Redon to Vannes. He made history as a killer, pillager and chapel-burner. He burned the churches of Redon and Béganne, as well as the chapel of Saint Roch. The chapel was rebuilt in 1854 in neo-Gothic style by Curé Marot.

This chapel is dedicated to Saint Roch, patron saint of pilgrims, surgeons, dermatologists and pharmacists. He was born around 1350 in Montpellier. It is said that, in the 14th century, Saint Roch took on the service of the plague-stricken and eventually contracted the disease. For fear of infecting others, he withdrew to a forest, where God sent him a dog every day to lick his wounds and bring him bread. This is why Saint Roch is often depicted with this animal at his side. In addition to the statue of Saint Roch inside, the chapel has preserved its acoustic pots, a technique whose purpose, according to the writings, was to amplify sound. Also of note in the chapel is the Joséphine bell, cast in Ploërmel by the brothers, to the Glory of Mary in 1855. There is also an inscription on a beam in the chapel: “Le 20 juin 1942 a passé la nuit : Lieutenant SURTEK”.