From the IXth century on, Brittany gradually became covered by a “white mantle of churches”, as was the rest of France. Although Brittany also has nine magnificent cathedrals, rebuilt from the XIIth  to the XVth century, the region owes its originality to its charming and unexpected humble parish churches, nestling in clearings or offering a boundless view over the sea. Inside some of these tiny chapels, you will come across astonishing statues of saints, who are not all recognized by Rome, and for good reason: there are several hundred of them. Saint Anne, Patron Saint of sailors, and Saint Yves, Patron Saint of Brittany are the major ones. The seven saints that  founded Christianity in Brittany are venerated during the Tro Breizh (Tour of Brittany), Brittany's most famous pilgrimage.  Numerous breton “Pardons”, (chapel fetes or processions), honour the local saints. All Pardon festivals start with Mass, followed by a procession, and come to an end with a profane fete with music, dancing and traditional games.

As a consequence of the profound fervor of breton people throughout many centuries, the maritime and inland landscapes are dotted with a host of religious monuments. On and off the beaten tracks, calvaries and solitary statues  will delight the walker. Abbeys also abound in Brittany. Particularly numerous in Finistère, parish enclosures are situated in the villages' very hearts. Uniting the world of the living and the world of the dead, they encircle the cimetery and include the church, the ossuary and the calvary.  Sometimes austere but mostly built in a flamboyant gothique style, the calvaries are genuine books  in relief, representing whole episodes of the Gospels, and at the time intended for people's education. Many of these specifically breton works of art have remained anonymous, whereas the modern glass stained creations are signed by contemporary artists.