Croix en pierre du 16e siècle
MonumentHidden Treasure
Croix en pierre du 16e siècle, located in Roz-Landrieux (Département 35), 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
- Roz-Landrieux, Département 35, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.5437, -1.8149
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00090761
Erected in the 16th century in the cemetery of Roz-Landrieux, this stone cross was classified as a Historic Monument in 1912 and features a bas-relief Christ of rare Breton sobriety, a moving reminder of rural piety during the Renaissance.
History
At the heart of the cemetery in Roz-Landrieux, a peaceful commune in the Dol-de-Bretagne region of Ille-et-Vilaine, stands a stone cross that has stood the test of time with silent dignity. Classified as a Historic Monument by decree in 1912 - testimony to the early interest shown by heritage authorities in this type of sacred object - it belongs to that discreet but essential family of Breton cemetery crosses, guardians of the collective memory and popular faith. What sets this cross apart from the countless calvaries dotted around Brittany is the finesse of its Christ in bas-relief, carved directly into the stone with an economy of means typical of rural religious art in the 16th century. Far from the grand narrative compositions of the monumental calvaries of Guimiliau or Pleyben, she has opted for purity: a stylised yet expressive body of Christ, whose formal modesty does not exclude a certain evocative power. To visit this cross is to become part of a special time, one of meditation and local history. The cemetery at Roz-Landrieux, like so many rural areas in Brittany, retains an authentic atmosphere, untouched by mass tourism. The cross stands out against a backdrop of vegetation and granite, in the blend of rigour and melancholy that is so characteristic of the funeral landscape of Ille-et-Vilaine. The geographical context further enhances the singular character of this monument. Roz-Landrieux is nestled between the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel and the Dol marshes, in a region whose long history of Christianisation - dating back to the early Middle Ages - has left a dense heritage fabric. The cross is an enduring marker of local identity in this spiritual landscape. For visitors interested in rural heritage and late medieval sculpture, this cross is an invaluable stop-off off the beaten track, inviting them to slow down and read in the stone the traces of an age-old devotion.
Architecture
The cross at Roz-Landrieux belongs to the classic type of Breton cemetery cross from the 16th century: a cylindrical or polygonal shaft resting on a stepped base, surmounted by a crosspiece whose ends may be trilobed or simply fluted, depending on local tradition. The whole piece is carved from granite, a material that is ubiquitous in Brittany, whose hardness imposes a formal sobriety that here becomes an aesthetic quality in its own right. The most remarkable element is the Christ in bas-relief, finely worked in stone despite the strength of the material. The body of Christ is depicted according to the canons of regional religious sculpture of the Renaissance: hieratic attitudes, simplified but legible modelling, concern for the expressiveness of the face and hands rather than anatomical realism. This bas-relief is in the tradition of Breton "cristères", the Christ-like representations that adorn countless rural crosses between the Loire and the Manche. The stone used, probably extracted from local or regional quarries, has the characteristic grey patina of Ille-et-Vilaine granite, which over time becomes covered with golden lichen and moss, adding an extra natural and temporal dimension to the object. The cross is modest in size - probably between 1.50 and 2.50 metres high excluding the base - and blends harmoniously into the setting of the parish cemetery, without seeking the monumentality of the great calvaries of Finistère.
Related Figures
Prosper Mérimée — inspecteur général des Monuments Historiques, initiateur des grandes campagnes d'inventaire du patrimoine breton au XIXe siècleArtisan tailleur de pierre breton anonyme du XVIe siècle — auteur présumé de la sculpture du Christ en bas-reliefHabitants de la paroisse de Roz-Landrieux au XVIe siècle — commanditaires probables de la croix, expression de la piété populaire localeCommission des Monuments Historiques (1912) — instance ayant acté le classement de la croix le 2 mars 1912
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Croix en pierre du 16e siècle located?
Croix en pierre du 16e siècle is located in Roz-Landrieux, Département 35 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Croix en pierre du 16e siècle built?
Croix en pierre du 16e siècle dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Croix en pierre du 16e siècle open to visitors?
Croix en pierre du 16e siècle is currently closed to visitors.
