Construction of the cross XVIe siècle (≈ 1650)
Estimated construction period
19 avril 1913
MH classification
MH classification 19 avril 1913 (≈ 1913)
Order of classification historical monument
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Cemetery Cross: By Order of 19 April 1913
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
Sources do not mention names
Origin and history
The cemetery cross of La Digne-d'Aval is an emblematic monument located in the department of Aude, in the Occitanie region. Dated from the 16th century, it is integrated into the walls of the communal cemetery, along Avenue de la Liberté. Its architecture is distinguished by a masonry base, an octagonal barrel and a capital adorned with four statuettes representing religious figures: Saint John, Saint Laurent, a bishop and an evangelist. One side of the cross shows Christ on the cross surrounded by the Virgin and Saint John, while the other side presents a Virgin to the Child crowned by an angel, accompanied by two saints and two angels.
Classified as historical monuments by decree of 19 April 1913, this cross illustrates the importance of religious symbols in funeral spaces in the 16th century. At that time, cemeteries were often located in the heart of the villages, and the crosses served as both a spiritual landmark and an identity marker for the community. The region, then marked by strong Catholic influence, saw these monuments play a central role in funeral rituals and collective memory.
The cross is now owned by the municipality of La Digne-d'Aval, and its precise location is listed at 5 Avenue de la Liberté. Although its state of conservation is not detailed in the sources, its classification reflects its heritage value. The available data come mainly from Wikipedia and the Monumentum database, supplemented by internal references to the historical monuments of Aude.