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Origin and history

The cross of Saint-Ener is a religious building located in Botsorhel, Finistère, Brittany. Dated from 1312 by an inscription on its base, this monolithic granite cross is distinguished by its square base adorned with a cornice and its barrel garnished with plague bubons, symbols of its votive character. It is connected to the barrel by a circular mulled sleeve, and represents to the east Christ and to the west the Virgin Mother.

A chapel, now extinct, was nearby, about 500 metres from the cross. The monument, inscribed in historical monuments by decree of 13 November 1969, bears witness to the medieval religious architecture of Brittany. Its base, in the shape of a pyramid trunk, and its pedestal moulure in reverse cellar underline the technical mastery of the artisans of the time.

The presence of plague bubons on the barrel suggests that this cross may have been erected as a thank you or protection against the black plague, which struck Europe in the fourteenth century. The monument, owned by Botsorhel, remains a remarkable example of Breton votive heritage, mixing religious symbolism and tragic historical context.

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