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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The armorial pillar is a border stone erected between the seigneuries of Préchonnet and Messeix, now located at the boundary of the communes of Messeix and Saint Sulpice, in Puy-de-Dôme. Dated from the 15th and 16th centuries, it materializes a territorial delimitation between two fiefs, as evidenced by the shields carved on its faces. On the east side are the coat of arms of the La Tour d'Auvergne, trenches of a band indicating a younger branch, while the west side bears those of the Leloup de Préchonnet, lords of the place from 1437 to 1608.

The terminal, of parallelepipedic shape, has two upper armorial bas-reliefs. These symbols recall the feudal alliances and hierarchies of the time, where the boundaries served as much to mark the limits as to assert seigneurial power. Ranked a historic monument in 1972, it illustrates the importance of territorial landmarks in the medieval and reborn organization, reflecting tensions or agreements between noble families.

Its classification by decree of 23 October 1972 underlines its heritage value, both for its seniority and for its role in local history. The coat of arms of the Leloup de Préchonnet and the Tour d'Auvergne, still visible, offer a concrete testimony of the political and social structures of the region at the crossroads of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

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