Your bike in front of ye olde cross
- Thread starter FrothNinja
- Start date
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bluenotebob
Guru
- Location
- central Brittany, France
la Croix du Concile
I’ve struggled to find out much information about this cross, other than it’s a croix du chemin (ie a road marker).
It’s just off a quiet road between Pluherlin and Carlevaux and very close to the site of a former Roman temple (fanum).
This whole area is rife with crosses and calvaires which is perhaps why it’s not particularly noteworthy.
The GR38 (long-distance footpath) passes just behind the large slate upright before disappearing into the gorse bushes. My road bike took one look at the path and said “no chance” – I’ll explore it another day on one of the MTBs and see if I can get a bit closer to the site of the fanum.
I’ve struggled to find out much information about this cross, other than it’s a croix du chemin (ie a road marker).
It’s just off a quiet road between Pluherlin and Carlevaux and very close to the site of a former Roman temple (fanum).
This whole area is rife with crosses and calvaires which is perhaps why it’s not particularly noteworthy.
The GR38 (long-distance footpath) passes just behind the large slate upright before disappearing into the gorse bushes. My road bike took one look at the path and said “no chance” – I’ll explore it another day on one of the MTBs and see if I can get a bit closer to the site of the fanum.
OP
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FrothNinja
Veteran
OP
OP
FrothNinja
Veteran
Do they act in the same way wayfaring crosses did in the British Isles?
I did see the cinema but never noticed a mermaid.
OP
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FrothNinja
Veteran
You were right next to it!
It's on the other side of the cross at the top. Think there is now a whisky named after her.
bluenotebob
Guru
- Location
- central Brittany, France
I guess they probably do (or did).
I've been told that stone crosses mark where significant tracks crossed - and that wooden crosses have a much more local meaning. They may indicate where something precious to a village was buried.
It's a theory and, although I'm not convinced by it, it is at least a theory.
Stone crosses litter the landscape here and I'm not persuaded that all of them mark where tracks/old roads crossed. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that some of the crosses have been moved from their original location. A lot of the straight roads here were built in the 18th century as turnpike roads ... and perhaps some crosses were moved during their construction.
There are a couple close to you on The Causeway - do you know much about them?
OP
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FrothNinja
Veteran
Most of our local ones mark routes. The theory is that they were placed in strategic positions where a traveller might be likely to lose the path.
There are a lot of socket stones around, and I suspect they only ever had wooden crosses in them. Wood would (forgive the unavoidable pun) have been easier to shape and erect. In times of peril they would also be a dash site easier to take down so the ungodly weren't guided to your settlement.
