Construction of crosses XVIIe siècle (≈ 1750)
Erection of the two crosses in shale.
19 juillet 1937
MH classification
MH classification 19 juillet 1937 (≈ 1937)
Inscription of the two crosses in historical monuments.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Cross transferred to the cemetery and backed up against the wall towards Carentoir (Box AB 60): inscription by decree of 19 July 1937; Cross located on the wall of the cemetery, in the axis of the bedside behind the church (Box AB 60): inscription by order of 19 July 1937
Key figures
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The source text does not mention any historical actors.
Origin and history
The cemetery of Saint-Nicolas-du-Tertre, located in Morbihan in Brittany, houses two remarkable crosses erected in the seventeenth century. These schist-style, palis and monolith-style crosses have distinct architectural features: a chamfered square barrel, redents, and symbolic motifs such as a reserve rosacea and holes evoking the five wounds of Christ. Their shape combines patty cross and Latin cross, with an arm termination in pottery style.
Both crosses have been protected as historical monuments since 19 July 1937. The first, backed by the wall of the cemetery in the direction of Carentoir, and the second, aligned in the axis of the bedside of the church, illustrate the importance of religious symbols in the Breton public space at that time. Their preservation reflects their heritage value and their role in local history.
The cross behind the church is distinguished by its inscription in a circumference, while details such as the chamfers and wheelbases of the barrel highlight the know-how of the 17th century artisans. These elements, combined with their materials (schiste), bear witness to the artistic and religious traditions of the region, where cemeteries also served as places of community gathering and collective memory.
Their precise location, near the town hall and the church, strengthens their anchoring in the urban landscape of Saint-Nicolas-du-Tertre. Although their geographical accuracy is considered poor (level 5/10), their presence remains a strong identity marker for the municipality, public property and accessible to visitors.
These crosses, by their iconography and positioning, recall the historical context of Morbihan in the seventeenth century, marked by a strong Catholic impregnation and a social organization in which the Church played a central role. Their classification in 1937 highlighted the early recognition of their heritage value, in a period when the protection of French historical monuments was intensifying.
Finally, their association with architectural elements such as the church bedside or the cemetery wall reveals a desire for the sacralization of space, typical of the Breton villages of modern times. Their study thus sheds light on funeral practices, beliefs and local crafts of this period.
