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Origin and history

The Montlegun Cross, located in Carcassonne, is a historical monument erected in the 3rd quarter of the 18th century. It consists of a base of square section at the base, evolving to an octagonal shape thanks to a mulled discharge. The cross itself is a monolith with an almost square section, with vertical edges down. On its eastern face, one still distinguishes the loose drawing of a hollow cross, while the date "1770" is roughly traced at its base. The style of the base, marked by the wear of its angles, suggests an older origin, probably from the sixteenth century, while the current cross, with still sharp edges, would have replaced an earlier version in 1770.

The monument was included in the inventory of Historical Monuments by order of 12 December 1946. It is located on the Montlegun road, at the address 1 chemin de Ventôse, in the commune of Carcassonne (Aude, Occitanie region). The approximate GPS location is 468 Avenue des Platanes. Owned by the commune, this cross illustrates the rural religious art of the modern period, with a precise dating thanks to the engraved inscription.

The base, older than the cross itself, has stylistic features of the sixteenth century, as indicated by its worn corners and its continuous chamfer on the upper face. The monolithic cross, on the other hand, with its sharp edges and engraved date, bears witness to a restoration or replacement that took place in 1770. This contrast between the two elements suggests a two-stage history: a first installation in the 16th century, followed by a renovation or renewal in the 18th century. The western face of the cross is anepograph, while the face is preserved traces of a hollow cross, reinforcing its symbolic and religious character.

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