The Most Controversial Monument In France Right Now

An unassuming statue of Pope John Paul II in a small town’s parking lot lies at the core of a protracted legal battle in France.

A sculpture of Pope John Paul II with his hands raised in prayer was erected in Ploërmel – a French community of just over 9000 inhabitants in the Morbihan department of Brittany in northwestern France – in 2006. All was well except for one detail: a conspicuous cross on the arch that crowns the statue. It this very element that is at the centre of a raging legal battle. The religious symbol has sparked a row that has engulfed everyone, from local authorities and the church to the highest administrative court in the land, the Conseil d’État.

Laïcité

At the heart of French republican values is the concept of laïcité – the constitutional principle of the separation of Church and State at the receiving end of a string of constant challenges, such as the one unfolding in Brittany.

The objection to the cross was brought forward by the National Federation for Free Thought (Fédération Nationale de la Libre Pensée), setting off a legal battle that culminated in the final decision of the Conseil d’État on October 25, 2017. The ruling stated that the cross must be removed as it was located in a public place, thereby contravening the laïcité principle. The court gave the town a six-month deadline to carry out the order.

The contested statue in Ploürmel, Brittany

This issue has created ripples around the world. Even the Polish prime minister has weighed in with the suggestion to relocate the statue to Poland, the birthplace of Pope John Paul II, where it would be displayed with pride, and giving rise to a social media campaign under the hashtag #MontreTaCroix, which translates to ‘show your cross’.

Whether the town will abide by the court order and remove the cross remains to be seen. According to a local news report, a public demonstration to resist has been called for November 26, 2017, signaling that this tug-of-war isn’t over just yet.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.