Initial construction XVIe siècle (≈ 1650)
Presumed period of first construction.
XVIIIe siècle
Changes or additions
Changes or additions XVIIIe siècle (≈ 1850)
Period mentioned without event details.
8 janvier 1955
MH classification
MH classification 8 janvier 1955 (≈ 1955)
Registration as a historical monument by arrest.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Cemetery cross, near the church, south side: inscription by order of 8 January 1955
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
Sources do not mention any related historical actors.
Origin and history
The cemetery cross of Bérengeville-la-Campagne is an emblematic monument located in the village of the same name in Normandy. Dating from the 16th and 18th centuries, it embodies the funerary and religious art of these periods, marked by architectural and symbolic influences specific to the region. Its location, close to the church (park 0024, south side), highlights its central role in community rituals and local collective memory.
Classified as a historical monument by decree of 8 January 1955, this cross reflects the importance attached to rural religious heritage in France in the mid-20th century. Its official protection reflects its heritage value, both artistically and historically. Available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum, Merimée base) confirm its status as communal property, although no information is provided on its current accessibility or contemporary use.
In modern times (XVIth-15th centuries), the cemetery crosses played a major social and spiritual role in the Norman villages. They served as a reference point for processions, a symbol of protection against epidemics or calamities, and a gathering place for funeral ceremonies. Their presence near the churches, as is the case here, strengthened the link between the community of the living and that of the deceased, in a region where the Catholic faith deeply structured daily life.
