Croix écotée
MonumentHidden Treasure
Croix écotée, located in Pleumeur-Bodou (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
- Pleumeur-Bodou, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.7737, -3.5177
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089439
Standing since 1621, this cross from Pleumeur-Bodou fascinates with its nine sculpted knobs on each edge and its Eucharistic reliefs of a rare finesse for a Breton cross.
History
In the heart of the market town of Pleumeur-Bodou, in the Côtes-d'Armor region, a stone cross stands silently behind the war memorial, a sober but tenacious reminder of four centuries of popular devotion. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1964, the 1621 cross belongs to the family of Breton crosses that line the roads and squares, but it stands out for the discreet sophistication of its size and the coherence of its iconographic programme. What makes this cross truly unique is the combination of two plastic vocabularies that are rarely brought together with such rigour: the so-called "ecotée" shape, i.e. with knots or protruding knobs evoking shaken tree branches, and an explicit Eucharistic setting - Christ crucified, chalice and host - making it as much an object of meditation as a marker of sacred territory. The nine knobs evenly spaced along each edge of the cross give the whole an almost musical ornamental rhythm, oscillating between natural rusticity and masterful geometry. The base itself merits attention: carved in cut sections, it bears the date 1621 inscribed in a frame with dovetailed ends, an astonishing carpentry detail for stone, betraying the hand of a craftsman familiar with mixed techniques. The care taken in framing the dedication reveals a well thought-out commission, probably from a brotherhood or a parish donor keen to leave a lasting mark. The cross was moved from its original location - somewhere on the outskirts of the village - to its current position, giving it the special status of a monument rescued from oblivion and reintegrated into the civic life of the commune. Photographers and enthusiasts of Breton vernacular heritage will find it an ideal setting for their compositions, particularly in low-angled light, which brings out the relief of the knobs and the depth of the Christ-like sculptures.
Architecture
The cross at Pleumeur-Bodou belongs to the type of cross with buttons, a Breton variant of the cross known as a "écotée" - a term used to describe a cross whose arms imitate tree branches whose branches have been cut off, leaving prominent knots. Here, nine knobs are regularly arranged on each edge of the cross, creating a sculptural rhythm that is both organic and rigorously ordered. The octagonal or polygonal cross-section is a common technical feature of Breton religious statuary in the early 17th century, lightening the visual impact of the shaft while multiplying the sculptural surfaces. The iconographic programme is concentrated on the main faces. The crucified Christ occupies the cross, sculpted in the round according to the conventions of the period: suffering body, draped perizonium, crown of thorns. A chalice and host, direct Eucharistic symbols that anchor the cross in the post-Tridentine spirituality of the Blessed Sacrament, can be seen on the reverse or on the sides. The base, also carved in cut sections, bears the inscription dated 1621 in a frame with dovetailed ends - a motif borrowed from carpentry and extremely rare in stone sculpture, indicating a strong artistic personality. The material used is probably local granite, the predominant stone in the Pleumeur-Bodou region, part of the Pink Granite country. Its resistance to the elements explains the generally good conservation of the cross, despite its four centuries of exposure to the sea winds. The whole, compact and squat in the style of Breton rural crosses, gives an impression of timeless solidity, perfectly suited to the granite landscape of the north coast of the Côtes-d'Armor.
Related Figures
Artisan tailleur de pierre anonyme (1621) — sculpteur local auteur de la croixRecteur ou confrérie du Saint-Sacrement de Pleumeur-Bodou (début XVIIe siècle) — probable commanditaireDonateur anonyme de la paroisse (1621) — financeur probable de l'œuvre, dont le nom figure peut-être dans les archives paroissiales disparuesInspecteur des Monuments Historiques (1964) — responsable de l'instruction du dossier d'inscription
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Croix écotée located?
Croix écotée is located in Pleumeur-Bodou, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Croix écotée built?
Croix écotée dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Croix écotée open to visitors?
Croix écotée is currently closed to visitors.