Rochers sculptés de Rothéneuf, Granite rock sculptures in Rothéneuf, Saint-Malo, France
Rochers sculptés de Rothéneuf is a series of seaside granite rocks near Saint-Malo carved with more than 300 figures. The sculptures stretch along the cliff and show people, animals and mythical beings in different sizes directly above the water.
A priest named Adolphe Fouéré began working the rocks with hammer and chisel in the late 19th century after becoming deaf and mute. He worked alone at this coast for over thirteen years and completed the work shortly before his death in 1910.
The rock figures show fishermen, sailors and saints as they appeared in the lives of Breton coastal communities more than a century ago. Many carvings refer to local legends and the hard life at sea that shaped people here.
The site is private and access is paid. The granite rocks are exposed to salt, wind and runoff, and moss and lichen make the surface slippery, so wear shoes with grip. The carvings stand on rocks overlooking the sea, not on a tidal shore, so low tide is not needed to see them.
The rocks were originally painted blue, light yellow, garnet and chocolate, as recorded in the abbot's guest book; some facial features were outlined in tar. None of this paint is visible today. A 2009 DRAC inspection judged the carvings' condition alarming, and erosion by salt, wind and runoff continues.
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