Construction of the cross XVIe siècle (≈ 1650)
Estimated period of implementation.
30 novembre 1912
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 30 novembre 1912 (≈ 1912)
Official protection order.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Stone cemetery cross: by order of 30 November 1912
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character mentioned
Sources do not cite any related historical actors.
Origin and history
The Vanlay Cemetery Cross is a religious monument located in the municipality of Vanlay, in the department of Aube, in the Grand Est region. Dating from the 16th century, it is representative of medieval and Renaissance cemetery crosses, often erected to mark a sacred place or commemorate a local event.
Classified as historical monuments by decree of 30 November 1912, this stone cross belongs to the commune. Its location, close to the church (4 Church Square), suggests a central role in the religious and community life of the village. The cemetery crosses served as a spiritual landmark and gathering place for the inhabitants, often linked to funeral practices and processions.
The Aube department, integrated into the Champagne-Ardenne region before its connection to the Grand Est, preserves many religious buildings of this period. These monuments reflect the importance of the Christian faith in the social and territorial organization of the French countryside in the sixteenth century, marked by the wars of Religion and a strong parish identity.
