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Origin and history

La Croix de Cemetery de Vignory is a monumental cross located in the cemetery of this commune in the Haute-Marne department, in the Grand Est region. Dating from the 16th century, it has been classified as historical monuments since 26 September 1903. This stone monument, with a total height of about 6 meters, consists of a double base, a cylindrical 2.05 metre barrel, and a capital adorned with figures of holy women. The cross represents Christ on one side and St Stephen, martyr, on the other.

Originally, the cross was installed in the old cemetery adjacent to the church of Vineyard. It was moved to the new cemetery in 1887 or 1920, according to sources. This shift reflects the urban and funerary evolutions of the commune over the centuries. The cross, owned by the commune, remains a major architectural and religious testimony of the Haute-Marne.

On the artistic level, the monument is distinguished by its relief capital, flanked by consoles supporting drapery figures. The pedestal, square, measures 80 centimetres in height and turns into a grooved throat. This type of monumental cross, typical of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, served both as a religious symbol and as a landmark in cemeteries, marking the sacred space and collective memory.

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