Mausoleum of Georges Cadoudal, Historical monument and mausoleum in Auray, France
The Mausoleum of Georges Cadoudal is a neoclassical stone building in Auray, Brittany, set on a raised platform supported by a low retaining wall. Its round shape is topped by a dome and a small lantern that lets light into the interior, where a wooden altar from the 18th century, originally from an old chapel, stands on a base added in the early 20th century.
Georges Cadoudal was born in 1771 in a village that is now part of Auray and led Breton royalist fighters against the revolutionary government in the late 18th century. He was executed in 1804 for plotting against Napoleon, and the mausoleum, built between 1830 and 1853 on the remains of an old monastery, was initiated by his brother Joseph.
The mausoleum is closely tied to the Breton sense of local identity and resistance against central power. Visitors interested in regional history come here to connect with a story that still matters to many people in the area.
The mausoleum is located on Allée du Mausolée in Auray, a short walk from the town center, and can be visited without an entrance fee. It is best to come during daylight hours to see the building properly, and visitors are expected to be quiet and respectful throughout the site.
The mausoleum was designed by architect Pierre-Marie Lussault and built using funds collected from royalist supporters, not through public money. It was listed as a protected monument in 1982, and from its terrace the house where Cadoudal was born can still be seen nearby.
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