Cultural links between Cornwall and Brittany will be further strengthened this weekend when the St Piran sculpture is transported from Mabe to North Quay, where it will be loaded onto the Nebeleuse, a classic French fishing vessel based in Paimpol, writes David Barnicoat.
From Falmouth, the Nebuleuse will take the statue to Brittany where it will be the 100th such statue to be placed in La Vallée des Saints to mark its tenth anniversary, and will be the only statue to be carved outside of Brittany.
The massive St Piran statue was carved by hand in one of Cornwall’s remaining traditional granite quarries, the Trenoweth Quarry in Mabe, by sculptors David Paton from Cornwall, and Stephane Rouget from Brittany.
Custom House Quay will be the centre stage of a three-day event starting on Saturday, when a Cornish/Breton market will open on the quayside.
On sale will be ales (Granite Rock Brewery and St Austell Brewery) and organic wines from Brittany, all especially made for the St Piran events.
Visitors will be able to buy Breton jumpers and memorabilia whilst sampling Breton and Cornish foodstuffs. There will also be exhibitions on Cornish stonemasonry and Breton culture. Tourism offices from Cornwall and Brittany will be present.
For the full weekend diary of times and events visit the Facebook page “Saint Piran Sculpture Big Send Off”.
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