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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Calvary of Saint Maudez, located in Edern in Finistère, is a religious building dating from the 15th century. A vestige of an ancient abbey, it is distinguished by its triangular base and its central cross representing Christ, always intact. After the Revolution, it became a communal property in 1791, before being sold in 1886 with the chapel of the Abbey. Today, most of the statues composing it have disappeared, with the exception of fragments like a part of the body of an apostle and the drums of the larron crosses.

The Pietà, a major element of the calvary, was transferred to the Museum of Quimper for its conservation. Originally, twelve apostles decorated the monument, placed on dedicated bases. Despite the dispersion of its components, the Calvary remains an architectural and historical testimony of Breton Christian art of the 15th century. It was listed as a historic monument in 1956, recognizing its heritage value.

Edern, like many Breton communes, was at that time a place of rural and religious life, where calvaries served as spiritual and community landmarks. These monuments, often linked to abbeys or churches, played a central role in local pilgrimages and gatherings. Their iconography reflected biblical beliefs and narratives, strengthening the region's cultural and religious identity.

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