Colonne des Trente, Granite war memorial in Guillac, France
The Colonne des Trente is a granite obelisk standing about 13 meters tall along Route D724 between Josselin and Ploërmel near a location called La Pyramide. The memorial sits within an enclosure managed by the local General Council and is open to visitors without gate restrictions.
The monument was erected in 1819 and commemorates a combat between thirty French-Breton and thirty Anglo-Breton knights during the Breton War of Succession in 1351. A cross had previously stood at this location in the 17th century, but was destroyed during the revolution and later rebuilt before being replaced by the obelisk.
The granite obelisk bears a copper plaque with inscriptions honoring the thirty Breton defenders who fought here. The engravings also acknowledge the Bourbon dynasty and show how this location has held meaning for people across centuries.
The memorial sits along Route D724 between two towns and is easily reached via this main road. The open access means visitors can stop by at any time to view the monument without advance notice or arrangements.
Before the obelisk was built in 1819, a stone cross from the 17th century marked the site of this historic battle. The cross was destroyed during the French Revolution, but the community rebuilt it before it was eventually replaced by the permanent granite monument.
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