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Origin and history

The cemetery cross of Monterrein is a monolithic Latin cross in schist, Greek style and patté, located in the enclosure of the cemetery of the commune, near the church of Saint Malo. It rests on a masonry base and features distinctive engravings: a cross and a chalice on the barrel, as well as the IHS letters on its main face. Its style and patterns suggest a possible origin in the 18th century, although this dating remains uncertain.

The cross was listed as historic monuments on May 30, 1927, recognizing its heritage value. It is owned by the commune of Monterrein, in the department of Morbihan (region Brittany). Its sober architecture, typical of the Breton cemetery crosses, reflects a local religious and artisanal heritage. Nearby, Saint Malo's church, originally dedicated to Saint Barthélemy, has undergone several changes since the seventeenth century, with partial reconstruction in 1927.

The cemetery and its enclosure once housed an audience of justice under the southern porch of the early church (12th century), now extinct. This historical detail, attested by a photograph preserved at the Audiovisual Library of Heritage, highlights the multifunctional role of religious buildings in Breton rural communities. The cross, on the other hand, embodies the spiritual and memorial dimension of the burial places, marking the sacred space of the cemetery.

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