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Heritage classified

Origin and history

La Croix de la Ville-Côte is a monumental cross erected in the 17th century, located near La Ville Coto in the commune of La Croix-Hellean, in the Morbihan department. It is distinguished by its granite monolithic base with its downed angles and its cylindrical barrel adorned with claws. The sides of the cross present half-relief sculptures: one cross Christ surmounted by a straight pediment on one, and one Child Virgin on the other. Although its construction dates back to the 17th century, sources evoke a possible origin in the 16th century, followed by restoration in 1990.

The cross was listed as historic monuments on March 29, 1935, recognizing its heritage value. Its architecture, characteristic of the Breton crosses, reflects the local Christian art of the modern era. The monument, owned by the municipality, is located at the approximate address of 17 Rue des Cours de Bellon. Its state of conservation and location (estimated at 5/10) underline the importance of its preservation in the historical landscape of Morbihan.

The monumental crosses, like that of the Ville-Côte, played a central role in the religious and social life of the Breton communities in the 16th and 17th centuries. They often marked gathering places, crossroads or parish boundaries, serving as both a spiritual landmark and a symbol of local identity. Their iconography, mixing Christ with the cross and Virgin with the Child, illustrates the strong Marian devotion in Brittany, while at the same time testifying to craft techniques in granite sculpture.

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