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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The cemetery cross of Ronno, dated from the 2nd quarter of the 17th century, is an example of a hosanary cross, a type of funeral monument spread between the 12th and 16th centuries, mainly in western France. These buildings, often associated with mass graves or ossuaries, are distinguished by their monumental structure, up to 10 meters high, with a cylindrical column surmounted by a cross. Their presence is particularly marked in Poitou, Charentes, Gironde, Dordogne, Auvergne, Brittany and Normandy.

The term hosannière could come from the Hebrew exclamation Hosanna, linked to Palm Sunday. In some areas, such as the south of the Deux-Sèvres or the Limousin, branches of sacred boxwood (hosanne or ozanne) were laid at the foot of these crosses during this festival. These monuments, sometimes nestled as in Auvergne or on the Cauchian coast, are often mistakenly confused with Celtic crosses.

Ronno's cross, inscribed as a Historical Monument by decree of 19 October 1972, is part of this tradition. Although there is no comprehensive inventory, about 100 of these crosses remain in France. Their role was both religious, commemorative and practical, often prominent in cemeteries or community gathering places. These buildings reflect funeral practices and local beliefs of the modern era.

In Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where Ronno is located, these crosses are less numerous than in Nouvelle-Aquitaine or Pays de la Loire, but they testify to the spread of this type of monument beyond its historical heart. Their preservation, like Ronno's, allows us to study the evolution of funeral rites and religious architecture between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

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