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Origin and history

The cross of Mane-Bley is a medieval cross located in Ploemel, Morbihan, Brittany. Cut in granite, it is distinguished by its short arms and a silhouette reminiscent of a cross of Lorraine. Its present location, rue de la Grotte, is the result of successive movements: initially erected on the road from Auray to Quiberon near Locmaria, it was transferred in 1867 by Le Bouléis, owner of the manor of Locmaria, on the height of Mané Bley. A second relocation took place in 1924, when the rector Le Franc placed it at the foot of an edified cultural ensemble near Kerivin.

The cross bears partially illegible inscriptions, including a mention read by Le Mene: 'Crux Lineri fil'. Its architectural style, marked by a double traverse with a threaded ends and a central diamond, suggests a dating between the 14th and 17th centuries, although local tradition associates it with a Celtic origin. Ranked a historic monument since 7 October 1935, it is also known as Croaz er Diben (headless cross), perhaps reflecting alterations over the centuries.

Its material history reveals traces of reuse and reinterpretation: the sharp chamfered cask and the prominent lower ergots reinforce its hybrid aspect, between religious symbol and territorial marker. Absent from the cadastre of 1845 to its original location, its move to the present site, linked to the Marian devotion (grotte de Lourdes), illustrates the evolution of local cultual practices. The cross thus embodies both a medieval heritage and an adaptation to modern contexts, between collective memory and monumental heritage.

Available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) highlight its anchoring in the Morbihan landscape, while noting the persistent uncertainties about its exact dating. The accuracy of its location is considered satisfactory a priori (level 7/10), and its current state allows public observation, although details of its accessibility or preservation are not explicitly documented.

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