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Origin and history

La Croix Macquerel is a monumental cross located in Évran, in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany. Cut in granite, it is distinguished by its height and absence of decoration on the stem, contrasting with the richness of its sculptures. The two-degree polygonal base supports a coiffed cross of a built-up larmal, historiated on both sides. The main face depicts a Christ in high relief, dressed in a short perizonium, his legs bent and his feet superimposed, framed by the Virgin with her hands joined and Saint John, whose curly hair is still visible despite the erosion. On the reverse, a Virgin with the Child shows a heart surmounted by a cross, symbol of Marian devotion.

Originally placed between the villages of the Petites Pastures and the Planches before 1900, the cross was moved on the border of the departmental road, facing the driveway of the castle of Mottay. His traditional iconography — Christ on the cross surrounded by the Virgin and Saint John, Virgin with the Child on the reverse — and his dating (14th or 15th century) make him a remarkable example of Breton religious art. Ancient clichés attest to a recent restoration, revealing details that have now been erased, such as a book or an armored shield held by Saint John. The cross was inscribed in historical monuments by order of 12 October 1964, highlighting its heritage value.

The monument is part of a historical context where the road crosses, often erected at crossroads or near places of worship, served as spiritual landmarks and marks of public piety. In Évran, as in all medieval Brittany, these crosses played a central role in community life, punctuating processions and pilgrimages. Their presence also reflected the influence of the Church and local lords, who frequently sponsored such works. The Macquerel Cross, by its size and its elaborate iconography, bears witness to the symbolic and artistic importance attached to these monuments in the region.

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