France: Guimiliau Parish Close

Just a dozen km from Lampaul-Guimiliau there is another rustic village of Guimiliau (try not to get confused here). There is another spectacular close parish church here, that is actually even older. The parish close dates from the 16th-century and had a grand “arc de triomphe” style entrance, a bellotower. an ossuary, an elaborate porch, a funeral chapel and a cemetery, and of course an absolutely stunning ornate church with a baptistery, pulpit, altarpieces, organ and lots of decorative friezes and statues. Its cavalry, world-famous as The Calvary at Guimiliau, was completed in 1588, and is particularly ornate and detailed – there is Jesus, angels, Virgin Mary, a bunch of apostles, and much more.