Cimetière de Larré
MonumentHidden Treasure
Cimetière de Larré, located in Larré (Département 56), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Larré, Département 56, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.7121, -2.5156
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00091361
In the heart of the Morbihan region, the cemetery cross at Larré features a remarkable 14th-century sculptural programme: saints, angels and Christ on the Cross on an octagonal shaft of rare eloquence.
History
Nestling in the peaceful cemetery of the village of Larré, in the heart of Morbihan, this monumental cross is one of the most moving testimonies to Breton medieval piety. Far from being a simple funerary marker, it reveals itself to be a veritable stone book on the theology and popular devotion of the 14th century, offering those who take the time to look at it a wealth of exceptionally rich iconography. What immediately sets this cemetery cross apart is the density of its sculptural programme. The four sides of its square base are home to a gallery of sacred figures - Saint Lawrence, Saint Catherine, Saint Michael, Saint Adrian and Saint John the Baptist - forming a veritable pantheon of medieval sanctity. The scene of the angelic salutation engraved on the north side is a reminder that these monuments were not simply funerary markers, but genuine catechetical tools for the faithful. The experience of visiting the cemetery is one of intimate contemplation. In this Breton village cemetery, in the shade of cypress trees and old schist headstones, the cross imposes its presence with a sobriety that does not exclude grandeur. The octagonal shaft rises elegantly towards the Christ on the Cross surmounted by the inscription INRI, a perfect synthesis of monumentality and finesse of execution. Inland Brittany is full of calvaries and cemetery crosses dotting its towns and crossroads, but the one at Larré stands out for the quality and diversity of its relief. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1926, it enjoys a well-deserved protection that guarantees the preservation of this modest but irreplaceable heritage. Larré is a quiet village in the canton of Questembert, surrounded by bocage and moorland, in a rural Morbihan that carefully preserves its traditions and monuments. A visit to the cross is a natural part of a tour of Breton religious and funerary heritage, including rural chapels and parish enclosures.
Architecture
The Larré cemetery cross is a sculpted monument with a tripartite structure typical of medieval Breton production: a square base with figurative decoration, an octagonal shaft and a cross at the top bearing a crucified Christ. The square base is the most remarkable part of the ensemble for the richness of its iconographic programme. Each of its four faces is decorated with figures in relief: the west face features three figures, including Saint Lawrence, recognisable by his grill; the north face shows the scene of the Annunciation (known as the angelic salutation); the south face features two figures that are not identified with certainty; and the east face shows three figures, including Saint Catherine carrying her wheel. The lower section - the foot of the cross - features a second series of four figures: a bishop in pontifical garb, Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Adrian and Saint John the Baptist holding the Mystic Lamb. These four figures are topped by a small pediment with a meticulous decorative effect, creating an elegant formal transition between the base and the shaft. The octagonal shaft, the canonical shape of Breton crosses, rises soberly to the crosspiece. This octagonal section, halfway between the symbolic square and the celestial circle, is a common technical and aesthetic solution in medieval funerary sculpture in the region. The materials used were probably local granite from Morbihan, a stone favoured by Breton quarrymen for its resistance to bad weather. At the top, Christ on the Cross, rendered with the sober realism typical of the provincial Gothic style, is surmounted by the titulus INRI engraved in capital letters.
Related Figures
Saint Laurent — diacre martyr représenté sur la face ouest, figure tutélaire de nombreuses paroisses bretonnesSainte Catherine d'Alexandrie — vierge martyre figurant sur la face est, patronne très populaire au Moyen ÂgeSaint Jean-Baptiste — représenté tenant l'Agneau de Dieu, figure centrale de la théologie médiévaleSaint Michel archange — guerrier céleste présent sur le pied de la croix, protecteur par excellence en BretagneSaint Adrien de Nicomédie — martyr militaire figurant sur le soubassement, saint protecteur des soldatsArchitectes ou sculpteurs anonymes du XIVe siècle — tailleurs de pierre bretons dont l'identité reste inconnue
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cimetière de Larré located?
Cimetière de Larré is located in Larré, Département 56 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Cimetière de Larré built?
Cimetière de Larré dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Cimetière de Larré open to visitors?
Cimetière de Larré is currently closed to visitors.
