Statue de Notre-Dame des Naufragés, Marble statue at Pointe du Raz, France

The Statue of Our Lady of the Shipwrecked is a marble monument in Plogoff depicting the Virgin Mary assisting a castaway sailor. The work stands on a substantial granite base and dominates the landscape at this exposed coastal location with commanding presence.

The sculpture was created by artist Cyprian Godebski and unveiled in 1904, having initially been planned for a different municipality. The artist dedicated this monumental work to Brittany following a personal tragedy, driven by profound grief.

Every year on the last Sunday of August, the pardon of Notre-Dame des Naufragés is held here, and for generations the Breton hymn Intron Varia Beg Ar Raz has been sung, describing the marble group. The west face of the pedestal bears the inscription naming the Virgin of the Shipwrecked; a plaque on the east side recalls the gift of sculptor Godebski and the sardine crisis of 1903.

The location sits on a rugged coastline where weather conditions are intense, so visitors should prepare for changeable conditions and strong winds. The monument occupies an easily visible spot with good access, though the area remains naturally windswept and exposed.

The statue was first meant for Plounéour-Trez as a tribute to sea rescuers, but the planned separation of church and state blocked that project. Godebski then offered the work to the bishop of Quimper, asking to be involved in choosing the new site. The granite pedestal was designed by canon J. M. Abgrall.