Saint-Patern district and church

This is the oldest part of Vannes. The Romans decided it was a good place to live and settled here in the 1st century BC. It’s a place you can visit by strolling along its cobbled streets, imagining the activity that once took place in the Tannerie Street or the Four Street. It’s a pleasant and lively district, full of small bars and timber-framed houses.

The Saint Patern church dates back to the 11th century. The first church was built in the tenth century and later destroyed, like Vannes’ Cathedral, during the Norman invasions. It takes its name from the first bishop of Vannes, Saint Paterne, who is also one of the seven founding saints of Brittany. According to Christian tradition, 7 evangelising saints founded the 7 main episcopal cities of Brittany at the beginning of Christianity.

The names of some of these saints can be found in the towns of Saint-Malo, Saint-Brieuc and Saint-Pol-de-Léon. Vannes was founded by Saint Paterne. As history has it, each saint took it upon himself to bring the Christian faith to his region, founding monasteries and building churches. It was their spiritual influence that laid the foundations of Christianity in Brittany. In fact, there is a pilgrimage that links each of these 7 towns.

It’s called the Tro Breiz, or Tour of Brittany, and Saint-Patern church is the stop-off point for Vannes.  The Romanesque church suffered extensive damage after the severe storms of the 1720s, as a result, the building you see today was rebuilt at the end of the 18th century.

In 2005, the church was added to the list of historic monuments, and two years later it was renovated from floor to ceiling in its original Baroque style. Step inside and explore this magnificent church, then take the main street towards General de Gaulle Square, where you’ll find the prefecture, which we’ll be visiting together in our next audio guide.