Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The cemetery cross of Saint-Germain-de-la-Rivière, erected in the 16th century, is located south of the western entrance to the church of Saint-Germain-et-Saint-Loup, in the municipality of the same name, Gironde. It has been classified as historical monuments since 9 September 1905. Its architecture reflects a popular art, typical of the crosses of this period, often carried out by masons rather than by professional sculptors.

The structure of the cross rests on a base of three seats surmounted by a cubic base, with a total height of 4.30 meters off steps. The round cask, adorned with four square pilasters, houses statuettes in bas-relief representing Saint Catherine, Saint Germain (patron of the parish), Saint Marie-Madeleine and Saint Louis. These sculptures are protected by accolade niches decorated with plant motifs.

The upper part of the barrel is girded with a frieze symbolizing the four evangelists (angel, lion, ox, eagle), while the cross itself, of origin, is decorated with florets and trilobed arches. Under the arms of the cross, characters such as the Virgin, Saint John and Saint Michael terrorizing the dragon (demon allegory) complete the Christian iconography. This cross is part of a series of similar monuments in Gironde, such as Bonzac or Bordeaux.

Although its style is modest, this cross illustrates the importance of religious symbols in funeral spaces in the 16th century. It also bears witness to local artisanal practices, where masons played a key role in the creation of carved works, often inspired by repeated models in the region.

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