Cimetière d'Augan
MonumentHidden Treasure
Cimetière d'Augan, located in Augan (Département 56), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Augan, Département 56, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.9208, -2.2825
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00090990
In the heart of the Augan cemetery, a 16th-century Calvary cross unfurls its delicate statuary: Christ, the Virgin and Saint John inhabit this octagonal stone shaft, listed as a Historic Monument in 1927.
History
Nestling in the quiet market town of Augan, in the heart of Morbihan, the cemetery cross is one of those discreet masterpieces that Brittany knows so well how to hide from the hurried visitor. Erected in the 16th century, it belongs to the great tradition of Breton Calvary crosses that dot the landscape of the Armorican peninsula, with each village keen to erect its own sculpted testimony to faith. What sets this cross apart from the many rural crosses in the region is the quality and precision of its iconography. At the top, Christ on the Cross is flanked by two statues - the Virgin Mary on one side and Saint John the Evangelist on the other - resting on a globe, in a composition reminiscent of the great monumental calvaries of Finistère, while retaining a more intimate and contemplative scale. The octagonal shaft bears witness to the mastery of lapidary skills typical of Breton Renaissance workshops. This eight-sided cross-section is not an insignificant choice: in medieval and Renaissance Christian symbolism, the octagon evokes the number for resurrection and eternal life, making this architectural support a theological message in its own right, anchored in stone for centuries to come. A visit to the cross in Augan cemetery is a unique moment of contemplation. The peaceful atmosphere of the village cemetery, surrounded by stones and discreet vegetation, invites you to take the time to observe every detail of the sculpture: the drapery, the faces, the delicacy of a hand or a crown of thorns that the centuries have worn away without erasing. A must-see for anyone interested in authentic Breton heritage.
Architecture
The cross in Augan cemetery has a sculpted architecture typical of Renaissance Breton lapidary. Its most distinctive structural feature is the octagonal shaft, an eight-sided column rising from a plinth to support the cross and its figures. This formal choice, widely used in 16th-century Breton crosses, combines structural solidity with geometric refinement, giving the whole a visual lightness that a solid cylindrical shaft would not have. At the top of the cross, the sculpted programme unfolds in three figures arranged according to the classic composition of the Calvary: the crucified Christ occupies the centre, his arms outstretched over the crosspiece, while the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist flank him on either side. These statues rest on a globe, an iconographic detail that evokes Christ's dominion over the earthly world. The size of the figures, proportionate to the shaft, suggests a masterful workshop, accustomed to calibrating its compositions for optimal legibility from the ground. The material used is local stone, probably local granite or schist, the preferred material of Breton sculptors because of its resistance to the Atlantic weather. The centuries have given the surface a mossy grey patina, typical of Breton stone exposed to humidity, which accentuates the meditative character of the whole without altering the legibility of the iconography.
Related Figures
Sculpteur anonyme breton du XVIe siècle — tailleur de pierre auteur de la croixParoissiens d'Augan du XVIe siècle — commanditaires et financeurs de l'œuvreInspecteurs des Monuments Historiques (années 1920) — artisans de la protection officielle de 1927Curés de la paroisse d'Augan — gardiens successifs du monument au fil des siècles
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cimetière d'Augan located?
Cimetière d'Augan is located in Augan, Département 56 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Cimetière d'Augan built?
Cimetière d'Augan dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Cimetière d'Augan open to visitors?
Cimetière d'Augan is currently closed to visitors.