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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The cross covered with Annot is a monumental cross located about 1 km south of the village, bordering the old road and the 908 departmental road. Built of sandstone cut stone, it consists of a stand supporting a drum with four monolithic elements, topped by a trilobed cross 350 cm high. The ensemble is protected by a four-column calcareous baldaquin, with a tile roof and a sandstone sphere. Graffitis adorn the barrel, and its style suggests a later dating (XVI century) than that indicated by its ranking.

Ranked a historical monument on 15 September 1928, the cross appears on ancient maps, such as the Map of Provence (1764–165) and the cadastre of 1830, where it is located near the chapel Notre-Dame des Auches, now extinct. The columns of the baldaquin, similar to re-employments observed in houses around the church of Annot, could come from an ancient cloister. Its name "Roman Cross" and its initial dating (Xth–XIIth centuries) are questioned by stylistic analyses.

The cross illustrates Provencal religious art and its evolution, between medieval heritage and Renaissance influences. Its baldaquin, rare for this type of monument, bears witness to local practices of protecting road crosses, often linked to places of worship or crossroads. Graffiti and the sommital sphere add to its enigmatic character, between religious symbol and territorial marker.

Administratively, the cross depends on the municipality of Annot (code Insee 04008), in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Its ranking covers the cross itself as well as a strip of land one metre around. Although located in rural areas, its proximity to the old national road (now RD 908) highlights its historic role as a landmark for travellers and pilgrims.

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