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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Calvary of L'Hermitage is a monumental cross located in the village of L'Hermitage in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany. Built in the 15th century, this granite monument is distinguished by its architectural structure: a base supporting a square pedestal with cut corners, topped by a second octagonal pedestal. A historiated monolith cross, of octagonal section, crown the ensemble. The south face of the cross represents Christ, while the upper part is decorated with a small roof in the shape of a dais.

The Calvary is located to the west of the center of the department, in front of the south facade of the Notre Dame church, on the rue de Montfort. It was listed as historic monuments on 27 February 1946, recognizing its heritage value. The building belongs to the town of L'Hermitage and bears witness to Breton religious art of the late Middle Ages, marked by the use of granite and symbolic carved motifs.

Architecturally, the calvary consists of a square base on which rises an octagonal drum. The cross, historiated, is carved into a single block of granite, a common technique for Breton calvaries of that time. The replacement of the upper part with a moulded roof, forming a dais above Christ, is a notable stylistic peculiarity. This type of monument served both as a spiritual landmark and a gathering place for the faithful, reflecting the importance of religion in everyday life in Brittany in the 15th century.

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