The Medieval Town of Locronan

The medieval Locronan (Lokorn in Breton) is about 35 km from Crozon.

The name Locronan is derived from Saint Ronan, a pilgrim monk and hermit originating from Ireland, who lies entombed here. He is said to have taught the people of Locronan the skill of weaving. And in fact, in the middle ages, prosperity was mostly dependant on the production of local hemp combined with the manufacture of high-quality ship rigging canvas.

Locronan is one of the most beautiful medieval towns in France

Over the ages, Locronan’s appearance has remained mostly medieval, and is well worth seeing. The town is a pedestrian precinct and thankfully remains closed to traffic. There is ample designated parking around the town.

Locronan’s church of St. Ronan is well worth a visit. The parish church dates back to 1424 and was erected on the site of the old oratory built in 1031. Next to the church on the square stands the small Chapel of Penity, built in 1480, which houses the crypt effigy of the patron saint. The establishment of this church dates back to the 16th to 18th centuries. The original tower stood at a height of 68 metres. However, the structure was struck by lightning three times in 1640, 1722 and 1808 and was never fully restored.

Constructed in an east-west alignment, the imposing structure impresses by her beauty and perfect harmony.

Incidentally, Locronan was used as the setting for the famous Roman Polanski film "Tess", an adaptation of the novel "Tess of the d'Urbervilles"by Thomas Hardy.Locronan