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Origin and history

The cemetery cross of Nieul-le-Virouil, located in the Charente-Maritime department in New Aquitaine, is a 15th century religious monument. It is located on the church square, at the location of the old cemetery of the village. This cross, classified as a historical monument since 1925, rests on stone steps and features ornaments carved on several levels, some of which may have been damaged during the Revolution or by natural erosion.

The structure of the cross includes a glaze-cut west face, designed to serve as a desk for a missel, as well as rounded angles to fix candlesticks. Its architectural details, such as the torso columns and prismatic veins, reflect a neat craftsmanship typical of medieval cemetery crosses. Its initial location in the cemetery highlights its central role in the religious and funeral practices of the local community.

Listed in the inventory of historical monuments by decree of 23 February 1925, this cross today belongs to the commune of Nieul-le-Virouil. Although its exact location has evolved (especially with the displacement of the cemetery), it remains an architectural and historical testimony of the region, illustrating both medieval piety and post-revolutionary upheavals.

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