Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The altar, also known as the Cross of Lassagne, is a historic monument located in Saint-André-d'Allas, Dordogne, New Aquitaine. Dating from the 16th century, it consists of a stand, two consoles supporting a niche decorated with a shell, and a circular barrel bearing a cross. Its location at the crossroads, backed by a field, suggests a link with local religious practices, including the blessing of harvests celebrated on April 25.

Filed by order of 11 April 1931, this open-air altar belongs to the commune of Saint-André-d'Allas. Its architectural structure, combining carved elements with religious symbols like the shell, reflects the artistic and spiritual traditions of the Renaissance in Périgord. The approximate location, noted as "a priori satisfactory" (level 6/10), indicates a preservation of the site in its original rural context.

The altar could be associated with agrarian rituals, such as the blessing of harvests, a common practice in the European countryside in the sixteenth century. These ceremonies, often organized by local communities, were designed to ensure the fertility of the land and the divine protection against climatic hazards. Although the source text does not specify the exact actors of these traditions in Saint-André-d'Allas, the monument embodies the central role of religion in the daily and economic life of the rural populations of the time.

External links