Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The cross of Pelouse is a monumental limestone cross erected in the early seventeenth century (between 1600 and 1620). It is distinguished by its octagonal barrel adorned with a three-beaced shield, typical of local iconography, and rests on a massive base with Gothic conges. Its crusillon, probably later added, suggests further modifications. Located at the entrance of the cemetery, south of the village, it marks a sacred and commemorative space.

The cross was listed as historic monuments by order of 13 July 1926, recognizing its heritage value. Owned by the municipality of Pelouse, it bears witness to the funerary and religious art of the Lozère in the early seventeenth century. Its hybrid style, combining late Gothic elements and Renaissance forms, reflects the artistic transitions of the period in the rural areas of Gevaudan.

The monument is part of a historical context marked by the wars of Religion (late 16th century) and the Counter-Reform, a period when the cross and calvary proliferated in Occitanie to reaffirm the Catholic presence. Pelouse, like many Lozérien villages, then depended on an agro-pastoral economy, and these crosses also served as reference points for community processions or gatherings. Their iconography, often linked to local trades (the besacs perhaps evoking trade or craft), strengthened collective identity.

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