Bateau de pierre
The stone called Bateau de pierre of Saint Conogan ( Breton Bag Sant Konogan ; French Bateau de pierre de Saint Conogan ) is an almost perfectly dug-out granite block in Beuzec-Cap-Sizun in the Finistère department in Brittany in France . The stone, about 500 m from the coast, was classified as a Monument historique in 1924 and has been part of the cultural heritage since 1983. The practices carried out on the stone are recorded and part of the registration as intangible cultural heritage in France.
From the 5th century onwards, Celtic missionaries came from Ireland and Wales to Christianize Brittany. An estimated 800 of them are known by name. The stone mystified during this period is considered a sign of these events.
The stone, which weighs about 20 tons, is about 8.0 m long, 2.2 m high and 3.0 m wide.
The legend describes the stone lying on the ground as a boat used by St. Conogan to cross the canal. St. Conogan, also known as St. Guénégan or St. Guenoc, was a Welsh monk. It can be brought to Brittany in the second half of the 5th century and was elected Bishop of Quimper . In Beuzec-Cap-Sizun his trace can be found in the name of the Lescogan district. The well and the chapel of the place are dedicated to the monk.
The stone is connected to another, Garreg-Toull (Bret. Rock holes , also Rocher Troué) called. It is located on the Pors-Péron beach. According to legend, this would be the rock to which St. Conogan's boat was moored when it arrived at the top of the cliff.
A statue of the saint about 3.5 m high and weighing over 22 tons was created in 2012 by the Breton sculptor Olivier Leveque. The statue is in two parts, the boat is made of gray Maël Pestivien granite, the bust is made of Bignan Jaure Aurora granite.
literature
- B. Merdrignac: Les Saints bretons, entre legends et histoire . In: Le glaive à deux tranchants, Rennes, PUR, 2008 (collection Histoire)
Web links
- Entry no.IA00006113 in the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture (French)
- Description French and pictures
- Description French and picture
Coordinates: 48 ° 5 '39 " N , 4 ° 27' 44" W.