Date engraved on base 1612 (≈ 1612)
Indicates a possible use of old elements.
XVIIe siècle
Current construction period
Current construction period XVIIe siècle (≈ 1750)
Cross erected or remodeled at that time.
28 janvier 1986
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 28 janvier 1986 (≈ 1986)
Official recognition of heritage.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Cross called du Buis or du Marchand (Case A 180): registration by order of 28 January 1986
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character identified
Sources do not mention any related names.
Origin and history
The cross of Buis, also called the Cross of Marchand, is a monumental cross erected in the seventeenth century. Located in the commune of Buis, in Haute-Vienne (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), it is distinguished by its structure: an octagonal barrel placed on a cubic base, surmounted by a cross with three trilobed branches. The date engraved "DCXII" (1612) on its basis suggests a use of older elements, possibly an expiatory cross linked to the murder of a merchant, before becoming a procession cross.
The cross was listed as historic monuments on 28 January 1986, recognizing its heritage value. According to the sources, its origin may date back to the 15th century, although its present form and inscription date from the 17th century. Its precise location is reported at 28 Avenue des Érables, on the town of Buis, in the department of Haute-Vienne.
This monument illustrates the importance of monumental crosses in French countryside, often linked to religious or judicial practices. The expiatory crosses, like that of Buis, usually marked a place of crime or redemption, while their reuse as a procession cross reflected their integration into community life. The presence of an effaced relief on the cross suggests a symbol or decoration that is now gone.
