The Saint-Étienne Cross

  • The Saint-Étienne Cross
  • The Saint-Étienne Cross
The Saint-Étienne CrossThe Saint-Étienne Cross

Presentation

Discover the religious heritage of La Plaine-sur-Mer with the Saint-Étienne Cross !
In the past, stone crosses were erected at crossroads, bearing witness to the past, customs and events experienced by the people of La Plaine-sur-Mer.
 
The present-day Saint-Étienne Cross dates back to 1853.
This cross, located on the side of the road between La Plaine-sur-Mer and Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef, is dedicated to Saint Etienne.

Located to the north of the village, this granite cross stood on the remains of a chapel dedicated to Saint Étienne.
These ruins are the earliest traces of a religious foundation in La Plaine-sur-Mer.
Adjacent to a Gallo-Roman site and an indigenous Gallic farm, this calvary covers the foundations of an early Christian church, surrounded by a Merovingian necropolis.
The neighbouring plots are known as Moustrés, suggesting the presence of an early monastery, of which all that remains is the restored cross.

It was in 1853 that the rector discovered the foundations of the church, which were located on a piece of land belonging to the local teacher, Pierre Laraison. The land ended at the main road from La Plaine to Saint-Michel.
A small cross, dedicated to Saint Etienne, was built there.
Mr Laraison ceded the site of this former chapel to the "fabrique" in order to have the chapel and a calvary rebuilt.

The limited excavation of this site revealed :
  • subjects with Frankish features
  • and a ring decorated with swastikas.     

The Saint Etienne cross is located 1km north of the village, in the corner between the Boulevard des Nations Unies and the Route de la Frenelle.
Information
  • PERIOD OF SITE OR HISTORIC MONUMENT :
    • 19th century
  • VISITS :
    • Individual admission (without guide)
  • Geographical zone :
    • La Plaine-sur-Mer

Map

Map

FICHE_INFO_SIMPLE_LIBELLE_DESTINATION
La Croix Saint-Étienne
44770
LA PLAINE SUR MER
GPS coordinates
Latitude : 47.14520
Longitude : -2.18685
See The Saint-Étienne Cross on GoogleMaps
LIEN_ACCES_MOTEUR_RESA_FICHE
Contact details
The Saint-Étienne Cross
44770
LA PLAINE SUR MER
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