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Origin and history

The cemetery cross of Saint-Jean-de-Blaignac is a 19th-century monument located in this commune of Gironde, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It embodies a typical example of the funeral crosses installed in French rural cemeteries at that time, often linked to Christian piety and the commemoration of the deceased locals. Its registration as a Historic Monument in 2001 underscores its heritage value and its role in the religious and social history of the community.

In the 19th century, cemeteries in rural areas were central places of collective life, where religious practices, family memory and spatial organization of the village were mixed. The crosses, like that of Saint-Jean-de-Blaignac, served both as a visual landmark and as a symbol of faith, reflecting the importance of the Church in the structuring of the territories. Their preservation today demonstrates the attachment of the municipalities to their material and spiritual heritage.

The cross is located at the approximate address of 9 Rue de la Poste, according to the GPS coordinates available. Its official protection, by order of 5 April 2001, concerns specifically the Cadastral element ZE 174, confirming its membership in the communal domain. Available sources, such as the Merimée and Monumentum database, document its existence without providing additional details about its sponsor or artist.

The accuracy of its location is assessed as fair (note 5/10), which may indicate minor uncertainties about its exact location within the cemetery. No information is provided on its current accessibility, whether it be visits, rentals or tourist uses. The associated photograph, licensed Creative Commons by William Ellison, illustrates its visual appearance without any additional technical description.

The Gironde department, where Saint-Jean-de-Blaignac is located, was marked in the 19th century by a rural economy dominated by viticulture, agriculture and artisanal activities. Funeral monuments, such as this cross, were part of a landscape where religious symbols rhythmized everyday life, from baptisms to burials, to employers' feasts. Their preservation today contributes to the transmission of this collective memory.

No historical character or artist is mentioned in the sources available for this cross. His history thus remains mainly related to his architectural and memorial role in the commune, without anecdote or biographical detail associated. Local or departmental archives could possibly supplement this information, but they are not accessible via current data.

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