Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The cross of the Val d'Anast cemetery, also called the Saint-Hermin cross, is a monumental cross located in the cemetery of this Breton municipality. Dated from the 16th century, it has been classified as historical monuments since 19 November 1910. This monument is distinguished by its unique architecture: instead of traditional branches, it has a rectangular surface divided into four carved faces. Each side illustrates a religious scene: Christ on the cross with two women praying to the west, the Virgin with the Child framed by two angels to the east, Saint-Rémy decapitated to the north, and Saint Peter carrying the tiara and the keys to the south.

The drum of the cross is rectangular with cut-pans, and the sculptures are sheltered under trilobed arches. This type of monumental cross, typical of Brittany, served both as a religious landmark and as a symbol of public piety in cemeteries. The cross is now owned by the municipality of Val d.

The iconography of the cross reflects the local beliefs and devotions of the 16th century, a period marked by artistic and religious renewal in Brittany. The scenes represented, such as the Virgin with the Child or Christ on the Cross, were intended to remind the faithful of the mysteries of the Christian faith. The presence of saints like Saint Remy and Saint Peter suggests a particular devotion to these figures, perhaps linked to local traditions or to specific protections invoked by the community.

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