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Heritage classified

Origin and history

La Croix de Boëssé is a monumental cross located in the cemetery of Yvré-l'Évêque, in the Sarthe department. Dated from the 16th century, it is characteristic of the cemetery crosses of this period, often erected to mark a sacred place or commemorate a religious event. Its carved faces represent the crucifixion of Christ on one side and the Virgin Mary on the other, illustrating traditional Christian iconography.

The cross was listed as historic monuments on 20 July 1966, recognizing its heritage value. It is located near Le Mans, in an area where medieval and reborn religious architecture is well represented. The precise location is indicated as being in the communal cemetery, on the cadastre section D, parcel 516. This type of monument often served as a spiritual landmark and a place of recollection for the inhabitants.

Yvré-l'Évêque, a peri-urban town in Le Mans, was in modern times a rural town marked by an agricultural and artisanal economy. Cemetery crosses, such as that of Boessé, played a central role in community life, serving as both a religious symbol and a gathering point for funeral ceremonies. Their presence reflected the importance of the Catholic faith in the social and spatial organization of the villages of the Old Regime.

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