Croix du 18e siècle
MonumentHidden Treasure
Croix du 18e siècle, located in Plémet (Département 22), 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
- Plémet, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.1644, -2.5589
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089408
Set in the heart of inland Brittany, this monumental 18th-century cross embodies the religious fervour of the Côtes-d'Armor region, with its sculpted shaft and calvary finely carved from local granite.
History
At the crossroads of the market town of Plémet, in the secret lands of Central Brittany, the monumental 18th-century cross stands as a spiritual and visual landmark rooted in the memory of the land. Listed as a historic monument since 1927, it bears witness to the artistic and religious vitality of rural Brittany at a time when every commune vied with each other in piety to endow its public spaces with works carved from the region's granite. What makes this cross so special is precisely the combination of the sobriety of the material - the bluish-grey granite characteristic of the Côtes-d'Armor region - and the delicacy of the carving. The cross bears representations of Christ on the Cross on one side and, in the Breton tradition, a Virgin and Child or a Pietà on the other, offering the faithful a double view of the mystery of faith. The shaft, slightly swollen in the centre like the shaft of a Doric column, reflects a classical influence absorbed by local stonemasons. A visit to this cross is as much a meditative experience as it is a lesson in folk art. Take the time to walk around the monument to appreciate its relief in different lights, particularly in the late afternoon when the low-angled light brings out the volumes of the sculptures. The surrounding greenery - often accompanied by a yew tree or an old oak in the Tro Breizh tradition - adds to the gentle, melancholy atmosphere that is typical of Breton calvaries. Plémet, a market town in the Côtes-d'Armor department nestling between the Ninian and Oust valleys, has preserved a heritage of crosses and fountains that make it an ideal place for lovers of rural sacred art to take a stroll. This cross is one of its discreet jewels, protected for nearly a century by the State's desire to preserve the richness of Brittany's small heritage.
Architecture
The Plémet cross belongs to the classic type of Breton monumental cross from the 18th century: a base with a quadrangular base, often with several steps forming a stone step, on which rises a cylindrical or slightly tapered shaft. This shaft, carved from grey granite from the Côtes-d'Armor region, rests on a knot - swollen halfway up - which is both a decorative element and a handhold for the faithful during ritual processions. The rectangular crosspiece features a Christ on the Cross carved in relief on the front, with facial features marked by a discreet expressiveness characteristic of Breton workshops in the Age of Enlightenment. The reverse traditionally features a Virgin in Majesty or a representation of the Pietà, according to local iconography. The granite used has a bluish to light grey colour, typical of the quarries in Central Brittany. Its resistance to the elements makes it an ideal material for outdoor sculptures, but it requires the sculptor to have a precise technique and mastery of the chisel to obtain the fine details of the drapery and faces. The total height of the monument - including the shaft and crosspiece - is likely to be between two and three metres, giving it a significant visual presence in the public space without reaching the spectacular dimensions of the great parish calvaries. Stylistically, the Plémet cross illustrates 18th-century Breton rural classicism: the geometric rigour of the general lines is tempered by the warmth of the sculpted details, heirs to a long medieval tradition reinterpreted in the light of the Baroque and Classical models that spread through the province from the 17th century onwards.
Related Figures
Recteur de Plémet au XVIIIe siècle (commanditaire probable de la croix au nom de la paroisse)Maître tailleur de pierre breton anonyme (sculpteur de la croix, héritier des ateliers de sculpture sacrée du Centre-Bretagne)Fabrique paroissiale de Plémet (administration ecclésiastique finançant et supervisant l'érection du monument)Inspecteur des monuments historiques des Côtes-du-Nord (à l'origine de l'inscription de 1927)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Croix du 18e siècle located?
Croix du 18e siècle is located in Plémet, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Croix du 18e siècle built?
Croix du 18e siècle dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Croix du 18e siècle open to visitors?
Croix du 18e siècle is currently closed to visitors.