Chapel of the Congregation

This small chapel may look peaceful today, but it has had quite a turbulent history! Built at the end of the 17th century, it was originally home to the Congregation of Men of the Immaculate Conception. Despite the rather solemn name, these were not members of the clergy, but mostly local craftsmen who gathered here to pray to the Virgin Mary.

Then came the French Revolution, and the chapel took on a completely different role. It was used to draw lots for the National Guard, elect local representatives, and for a time even store the town’s fire pumps. In other words, it certainly knew how to make itself useful!

Its most dramatic chapter came in 1795, after the failed Royalist landing at Quiberon. Military commissions were then set up inside the chapel to try captured Chouans and émigrés. A quick word about those terms may help.

In this context, the “émigrés” were not foreigners who had moved to France, but French citizens, often nobles or military officers, who had fled the Revolution and returned from abroad in an attempt to restore the monarchy. The Chouans, meanwhile, were Royalist insurgents from western France who were already fighting the Republic on home soil. Their name came from the nickname of Jean Cottereau, known as Jean Chouan, one of the early leaders of the uprising.

As you might expect, their plan failed, and the landing at Quiberon did not succeed in restoring the monarchy. Some of the prisoners were tried and sentenced right here in this little chapel. If it’s open, step inside and take a look.

After serving for a time as the tourist office, it is now used for exhibitions and visits devoted to Auray’s heritage. A much more peaceful cultural chapter in its long and eventful history.