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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The cemetery cross of Mauriac is a hosanary cross, a type of monument that appeared in the 15th century to bless the branches during religious processions. These crosses, often financed by local lords, were placed in the centre of the cemeteries and highlighted the patron saint of the parish. Mauriac, located in the communal cemetery, is typical of this tradition, with a Gothic structure and symbolic sculptures.

The cross rests on a square base with three steps, topped by a carved octagonal barrel. Saint Saturnin, patron saint of the local church, and Saint Denis, accompanied by angel heads. The upper part, more modern, contrasts with the medieval base. Ranked a historic monument in 1907, it illustrates the craftsmanship of the master masons of the period, although its erosion has altered some details.

According to the sources, the Gothic cask is contemporary from the 15th century, while the sommital cross and its table could date from a later period. The monument, owned by the commune of Mauriac (Gironde), remains a testimony of Christian architecture and the religious practices of medieval New Aquitaine. Its present state reflects centuries of exposure to the weather, typical of the stone hosannière crosses.

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