Groupe de cinq stèles gauloises
MonumentHidden Treasure
Groupe de cinq stèles gauloises, located in Saint-Agathon (Département 22), is a historic monument. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Location
- Saint-Agathon, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.5576, -3.0912
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089578
Five Gallic stelae in Brittany's Trégor region, a striking vestige of the Iron Age. These sculpted monoliths, listed in 1958, bear witness to Celtic funerary and cult art of rare symbolic density.
History
In the heart of the Côtes-d'Armor region, in the commune of Saint-Agathon not far from Guingamp, an exceptional group of five Gallic stelae stands out as one of the most eloquent testimonies to Celtic civilisation in Armorica. These monoliths, fashioned in the Iron Age, form a coherent group that is striking for its concentration: there are few sites in Brittany that contain so many stelae in one place, giving this group of stones exceptional archaeological and heritage value. Each stela has a distinctive silhouette: an elongated stone shaft, slightly bulging or tapering depending on the specimen, evoking both a stylised human figure and a sacred pillar. Their surface, crafted from local granite in bluish-grey tones, bears the scars of time, but sometimes reveals discreet reliefs, hollows or traces of polishing that suggest a deliberate artistic and ritual intention. The ensemble is a rare example of Celtic lapidary art from before the Roman conquest. The visitor experience is intimate and silent. You have to take the time to approach them, to walk around them, to let the low-angled morning or evening light reveal their shapes. The surrounding vegetation, typical of the Breton bocage, adds to the atmosphere of contemplation that pervades the site. Fans of archaeology and prehistoric history will find plenty of food for thought here. The setting of Saint-Agathon, a small commune in the inland Trégor region, is a perfect complement to this experience. Just a few kilometres from Guingamp and its Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours basilica, the site offers a striking contrast between the Christian Middle Ages and these much older witnesses to pre-Roman spirituality. The Armorican region, exceptionally rich in menhirs, dolmens and stelae, is a living repository of Celtic memory.
Architecture
The five stelae at Saint-Agathon belong to the type of Gallic Armorican stelae, a lapidary form characteristic of the Iron Age in Brittany. Each monolith is carved from local granite, the dominant rock in the Trégorois subsoil, whose exceptional strength has enabled these stones to survive for more than two millennia. Their height probably varies between 0.80 metres and 2 metres, a typical range for this type of monument in the region, with a tapered profile, slightly widened at the base to ensure stability in the ground. The general shape of the stelae fluctuates between an elongated cone and a flattened cylinder, with no epigraphy or elaborate anthropomorphic figures - unlike the stelae of Mediterranean Antiquity. This formal sobriety is characteristic of the Gallic sculptural language in Armorica, where symbolic power comes from volume and verticality rather than decoration. Some stelae nevertheless have slightly polished surfaces on their exposed sides, indicating careful treatment and a conscious aesthetic intention. The grouping of five elements is one of the most significant architectural features of the ensemble. Their spatial arrangement - probably aligned or in a circular arc, in line with known configurations for similar ensembles - organises an implicit ritual space, a kind of open-air sanctuary whose geometry reflects the symbolic and cosmological logic specific to Gallic societies in Armorica.
Related Figures
Les artisans lapidaires gaulois du peuple des Coriosolites (Ier-VIe siècle av. J.-C.), vraisemblables auteurs des stèlesLes érudits de la Société d'émulation des Côtes-du-Nord (XIXe siècle), premiers inventoriants scientifiques du siteJacques Briard, archéologue breton spécialiste de l'âge du bronze et du fer en Armorique, dont les travaux éclairent le contexte de ces monumentsLes agents de la DRAC Bretagne, garants de la protection et de la conservation du site depuis 1958
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Groupe de cinq stèles gauloises located?
Groupe de cinq stèles gauloises is located in Saint-Agathon, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
Is Groupe de cinq stèles gauloises open to visitors?
Groupe de cinq stèles gauloises is currently closed to visitors.