The common Elven is marked by its history. Its architectural and natural heritage testify to its medieval life, from the troubled times of the Revolution or the war 39-45.
Many archaeological finds dating from the Bronze Age, the Iron Age and Gallo-Roman period were made in the municipality.
In the 5th century, when immigration of Irish Celts, Elven was one of the parishes founded by Irish religious leaders. This was the time when Saint Patern lived, first bishop of Vannes.
Around the year 900, a castle is already built, probably intended to stop the Norman invasions. Castle Elven or Largoët (The Argoët in Breton: Country wood) is located 2 km from the center of the town, amid a large wood and a park enclosed by walls. Since the 17th century, the castle suffered the ravages of time and men.
The Revolution of 1789 was a turbulent period for Elven that shook the Breton country and give birth to the Chouans. Almost all the priests of the canton refused the oath of the Constitution. In 1793, conscription angered the people and open insurrection broke out.
Parish Elven had raised two companies commanded by Joseph Gambert. Many skirmishes took place with the Republican soldiers.
For over a century, Elven was uneventful, but during the German occupation of 39-45, showed resistance to it in an active and experienced several episodes Elven glorious. This is also the territory of the commune in 1941 that, having held the first airborne operation "Operation Savana England inner strength" that commemorates a monument beside the road Questembert.
The architectural heritage of the municipality:
- Tours Largoët (XIV), the tallest octagonal dungeon in France.
- Kerfily (late nineteenth), very beautiful set.
- The Boissière (Roman presence and Templar).
- Kerleau (former property of the Descartes family).
- Saint-Alban church, 15th century choir.
- The chapel Saint-Germain, the current chapel dates from the sixteenth century. Built in a simple fixture, its gable is pierced by a semicircular door, decorated with moldings which rest on two columns with a flowered pinnacle and a broken arch window decorated with a stained glass window. At the top of the chapel culminates a saddle bell tower housing a bell under a broad arcade. Sablières and stained glass windows bear the coat of arms of the noble families of the parish: on the sandpits of the interior, the coat of arms of the Rieux with 9 bezants, and the stained glass window, 5 escutcheons, many of which can come from the parish church: weapons des Rieux - Rochefort, Callac, Coet-er-Garff. In addition to a restored statue of Saint Germain, from the church, and placed in the south window, the chapel is decorated with woodwork including a balustrade dating from 1784. Roof and vault were redone in 1972 and 1977. Recently were there discover traces of ancient murals.
- The chapel of Camarec, erected in 1830 as indicated by the inscription of the door, succeeds a first chapel. This one, located on the ground which dominates the fountain was sold as "national good" to the Revolution, and demolished by its owner. The inhabitants rebuild it, at their expense. Since 1972, roof and vault have been redone, the walls stripped, the choir refitted; the altar table comes from the chapel of the Madeleine, and the stained glass windows of the parish church. They represent St. Anne, who already has a remarkable wooden statuette, and St. Joachim, parents of the Virgin Mary, and St. Paul. The chapel is dedicated to the Virgin under the name of Our Lady of Clarity, and calls, by this invocation, a pilgrimage for people with poor eyesight. A pardon takes place every year in the chapel. The Camarec fountain, built in the 16th century and restored in 1975, has the shape of a small oratory open on three sides. The lintels basket handle support a molded entablature, capped with a pyramid with a metal cross at the top.
- The chapel Saint-Christophe (XVth - XVIth century), whose roof had collapsed in 1928, was shortened and well restored. She received the window of Pentecost taken from the church during the restoration of 1975. An ancient stele, placed in the old cemetery of the chapel, was naively called "tomb of Saint Christopher" until 1842. It s is actually a military terminal of Gallo-Roman origin. Saint Christopher is invoked for the protection of travelers. The cross of Saint Christopher dates from the 9th-10th centuries. The upper part of this large monolithic cross has been updated during a plowing. A discovery that allows the reconstruction of this monument measuring more than two meters. Slightly pattée, this cross with the chamfered base dates back to a very old period.
- The Sainte-Anne chapel was built at Ker-Anna from 1900 to 1902. The neo-Gothic building has a remarkable gable. At his feet, a door surmounted by a hug with fleuron resting on pilasters with pinnacles in bloom. A steeple "Cornouaillais" rushes into the sky, extended by an arrow cantoned small gâbles and gargoyles. Stained glass windows retrace the history of Sainte-Anne. That of the choir presents, within the framework of the church and the Towers, the personalities of the time and the donors.
- The chapel Saint-Clément and the monolithic cross on the placard: inscription to the Historical Monuments by decree of October 24th, 1973. The chapel Saint-Clément goes back to XVe century. Its facade, supported by two buttresses, is pierced by a broken arch door. The creepers are extended by a small bell tower which houses a bell under a semicircular arch. In its bare aspects, the chapel contains two statues of saints, an altarpiece, and beautiful frescoes of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The chapel received a roof, a vault and new stained glass windows from 1975 to 1978. The remains of the original stained glass windows were amalgamated in the skylight of the nave. The rectangular base of the cross of Saint Clement in irregular device, carries a thick table forming a projection in which the cross proper. It is a monolith of 1.50 m high, carved in the granite of the country.
The natural heritage:
The town has various hiking trails in green frames spread over its territory.
Week of the Gulf of Morbihan in May. An international maritime event, a cultural and popular festival in the magical setting of the "Little Sea" (Mor Bihan in Breton). More than a thousand traditional and classic boats in coherent and identifiable fleets, sailing daily and varying their ports of call between ports and anchorages. Result: a maritime feast "exploded" which animates the whole Gulf of Morbihan. It is the particular geography and physical characteristics of this "small sea" (its islands and islets, the narrow gully that separates it and protects it from the high seas, tidal spills, chop, currents and counter- Currents) that determine and rhythm the entire nautical program of the event.
