A unique crèche in this chapel in the center of Morbihan

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Ouistreham, Sword Beach, Juno Beach, Gold Beach, Arromanches. Who doesn't know the names of these beaches in Landing ally of June 6, 1944? Especially with the 80th anniversary this year. These names made their entry into the chapel of Saint-Jean du Poteau (Plumelin) and you can even admire the D-Day beaches, created by the skillful hands of the Friends of Saint-Jean du Poteau.

10 volunteers mobilized

It is for their 21st nursery that nearly ten volunteers from the association reproduced several beaches, after choosing the theme of the Landings. » All last year and this year, we talked about D-Dayon the sidelines of the 80th anniversary of the Landing, recalls Erwan Le Gal, president of the Friends of Saint-Jean du Poteau. For my work, I spend a lot of time in Normandy. In December 2023, I saw a poster in Arromanches, which mentioned the Landing ceremonies. It clicked in my head and I talked to Samuel Bernard about it. “

The latter has been teaming up for years with the president to create the nativity scene in the chapel. The latest, in 2019, dazzled visitors, since they had Mont Saint-Michel before their eyes. Subsequently, Covid got the better of this action.

50 m2

In 2024, the tradition returns with the Landings. At the beginning of October, the two friends set to work. “To discover the relief of the cities in question, we first spent a weekend there, reveals Erwan. We also visited four or five museums, to get acquainted with the atmosphere of the Landing. »

Erwan and Samuel then determined a scale of the plan. “We started with the size of the military, that followed with churches and the rest,” specify the two designers.

Isabelle Bernard and Josiane Robic continued with the paintings of certain elements which form the nativity scene, before assembly by the dozen volunteers. All on approximately 50 m2. We are rather satisfied with the result,” smiles the president, scanning the beaches, the Bayeux cathedral (the manufacturing of which required 12 hours and the painting 20 hours), the D-Day barges, the bunkers, the churches, including that of Sainte-Marie Church, at the top of which there is no shortage of paratroopers hanging.

Practical: opening, for the public, Saturday December 14, at 2 p.m.; visits until January 12, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., January 18, 19, 25 and 26, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; outside these dates, for groups, call 06 84 07 90 26.

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