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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The cemetery cross of Roz-Landrieux is a monumental stone cross erected in the 16th century. It stands in front of the village church in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany. Classified as historical monuments since 2 March 1912, it bears witness to the funeral and religious art of the Breton Renaissance. Its sober architecture and sculptures make it a typical example of the cemetery crosses of that time.

The cross presents a Christ in bas-relief on his front face, while the reverse bears a representation of the Virgin to the Child. These sculptures, carved directly from the granite mass, are accompanied by coats of arms identified as those of the families of Han and Le Bouteiller, as well as an undetermined third family. These heraldic elements suggest a link to influential local lines, although the archives do not specify the exact sponsor.

The building, owned by the commune, is located Church Square (or 7 Church Street depending on the sources). Its classification in 1912 underlines its heritage value, both for its seniority and for its iconography. The coat of arms, combining the Han with Le Bouteiller and an unidentified family, could evoke matrimonial alliances or seigneurial protections, common practices among the Breton nobility of the time.

Like other monumental crosses, this work probably served as a spiritual and social landmark for the village community. The cemetery crosses, often erected in the 15th and 16th centuries, marked the entrance to the sacred places and reminded the faithful of their duty of piety. Their presence also reflected the central role of the Church in the organization of local life, between funeral rites and parish assemblies.

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