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Origin and history

The road cross of Choisey, also called the cross of the Ruchotte or the cross of the fountain, is a monumental cross located in the village of Choisey, Burgundy-Franche-Comté. It is located on the edge of the 231 departmental road in the Jura department. This monument, dated from the 4th quarter of the 15th or 16th century, is a typical example of medieval road crosses, often erected at village entrances or along roads to mark a place of devotion or assembly.

The cross rests on a square base bearing the inscriptions of dates 1535 and 1784, suggesting interventions or restorations at these periods. The cask, of octagonal section, bears a coat of arms of the Bourgeois family, established at Dole since 1349. The cross itself, also octagonal, presents two sculpted faces: a Christ in cross and a Virgin to the Child. These sculptures were severely damaged in the early twentieth century, with Christ losing his lower limbs and the Virgin being beheaded.

Classified as historical monuments by order of 18 April 1906, this cross is a testimony of religious art and local history. It is located at the entrance of the village, on the side of Saint-Ylie, and belongs to the municipality of Choisey. Its state of preservation and its iconographic details are a subject of study for the history of Christian architecture and devotional practices in Franche-Comté.

The monument is referenced in the base Mérimée under the code Insee 39150, corresponding to the municipality of Choisey in the Jura. Its approximate address, 47 B Rue d'Amont, allows to locate it with an accuracy deemed satisfactory. The cross, a communal property, remains an accessible heritage element, although its present state no longer allows to fully appreciate its original sculptural details.

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