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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The cross of the cemetery of Sainte-Marie-Outre-l'Eau is a monumental granite cross erected during the first half of the seventeenth century. It is located in the cemetery of the commune, southwest of the entrance of the church. This type of cross, typical of the rural areas of Normandy, often served as a religious and funeral landmark for local inhabitants, while symbolizing the presence of the Church in daily life.

The cross was listed as historic monuments on October 4, 1932, recognizing its heritage and historical value. It belongs today to the commune of Sainte-Marie-Outre-l'Eau, in the Calvados department, in the Normandy region. The cemetery crosses of this period often reflect the local craftsmanship and religious traditions of the period, while marking the sacred space of the cemetery.

The monument is part of a historical context where Norman rural communities were strongly structured around the parish and its symbols. The cemetery crosses, in addition to their religious function, served as gathering points and collective memory. Their preservation makes it possible today to understand the spatial and social organization of villages in modern times.

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