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Heritage classified

Origin and history

La Croix Ancienne du Cemetery de Barfleur is a monument located in the cemetery of this commune in the Manche department, Normandy. It is in the immediate vicinity of Saint-Nicolas Church, in the heart of the historic village of Barfleur, known for its maritime and religious heritage. Its exact location is listed under cadastral plot AB 301 and its administrative address corresponds to 2 Quai Henri Chardon.

This cross was officially recognized for its heritage value by an inscription in the title of historical monuments, effective since 21 October 1988. This ranking places it under the protection of the French State, stressing its importance in the local cultural landscape. The management of the monument is now the responsibility of the commune of Barfleur, owner of the premises, although details of its origin or construction are not specified in the available sources.

In the Norman context of the 19th and 20th centuries, the cemetery crosses played a central role in the funeral and religious practices of local communities. They often served as a visual and symbolic landmark, marking the entrance to the burial grounds and recalling the sacred dimension of these spaces. In Barfleur, as in other coastal villages, these monuments also reflected the inhabitants' attachment to their heritage, between maritime traditions and Christian heritage.

Available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum, Merimée base) confirm its protected status but do not provide information about its iconography, materials or artist. Its current state of conservation and any restorations are not documented. The cross, however, remains a notable feature of Barfleur's historical landscape, which is included in the list of classical monuments of the Manche department.

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