Croix de Landoma
MonumentHidden Treasure
Croix de Landoma, located in Pleugriffet (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
- Pleugriffet, Département 56, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.9794, -2.6744
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00091479
A stone sentinel in the heart of Morbihan, the Landoma Cross is a rare example of 17th-century Breton sculpture, with finely chiselled figures on each side.
History
Nestling in the tranquil countryside of Pleugriffet, in the heart of inland Morbihan, the Landoma Cross is one of those discreet monuments that encapsulate in a few cubic decimetres of granite all the fervour and skill of Breton craftsmen of the Ancien Régime. Modest in size but remarkable in the quality of its workmanship, it belongs to the long tradition of wayside crosses that once lined the roads and rural paths of Brittany, guiding travellers as much as inviting passers-by to prayer. What makes the Landoma Cross truly distinctive is the richness of its iconography. On a cylindrical shaft with a well-proportioned ring, the cross displays four carefully sculpted figures: Christ on the cross on the east side, the Virgin and Child on the west side, and two smaller figures on the sides. A sober rectilinear pediment crowns the whole, giving the work a classical rigour tempered by the popular sensibility of the iconography. The experience of visiting the church is that of an intimate encounter with Breton rural piety. Far from the crowds, in a landscape of hedged farmland and soft moorland, the cross imposes its silent presence. Visitors take the time to walk around the shaft, to decipher the faces worn by three centuries of weathering, to see in the slightly naive workmanship of the figures the imprint of a local workshop proud of its art. The natural setting contributes greatly to the emotion of the place. Pleugriffet, a rural commune on the borders of the Pontivy and Gallo regions, has preserved its authentic character, which is not very popular with tourists, making the discovery of such a monument all the more precious. The cross blends into the surrounding vegetation, emphasising its verticality and giving it an almost sacred presence in the landscape.
Architecture
The Landoma Cross is based on a sober but coherent architectural vocabulary, typical of Breton wayside crosses of the 17th century. The shaft is cylindrical, slightly tapered, and adorned with a raised ring that marks the transition between the main body and the head of the cross. This cylindrical shape, which is preferred to the prismatic or twisted shafts found in other regions, gives the cross a classic elegance and a solidity that will stand up to the rigours of the Morbihan climate. The head of the cross is crowned by a small rectilinear pediment, an architectural detail that bears witness to a classical influence - perhaps imported from models distributed by the region's major sculptural factories or from engravings circulating in craft circles at the time. The four sides of the cross are decorated with figures in bas-relief: Christ on the cross on the main side, the Virgin and Child on the reverse, and two smaller figures - probably patron saints or donors - on the sides. This tetrahedral organisation of the iconography is characteristic of Breton calvaries of the period. The material used is local granite, a hard and resistant stone that explains the relatively good conservation of the sculptures despite three centuries of exposure to the elements. The workmanship of the figures is that of a skilful folk artist, both expressive and stylised, where the frontal aspect of the figures and the schematisation of the drapery reveal the hand of a local stonemason trained in the tradition of Morbihan workshops.
Related Figures
Artisan tailleur de pierre breton (XVIIe siècle) — sculpteur anonyme de la croix, issu vraisemblablement d'un atelier local du Morbihan intérieurCommanditaire local (XVIIe siècle) — probablement un seigneur ou une fabrique paroissiale de Pleugriffet ayant financé l'érection de la croixConservateurs des Monuments Historiques (1934) — responsables de l'inscription de la croix à l'Inventaire supplémentaire le 20 mars 1934
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Croix de Landoma located?
Croix de Landoma is located in Pleugriffet, Département 56 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Croix de Landoma built?
Croix de Landoma dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Croix de Landoma open to visitors?
Croix de Landoma is currently closed to visitors.