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Origin and history

The cross of Noailles, also known as the obelisk of Noailles, is a cross of paths erected in the 18th century in the heart of the forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye in Île-de-France. This monument is distinguished by its doric column, surmounted by a stone cross, and rests on a base decorated with medallions and coats of arms. Originally, the cross was made of iron, but was withdrawn during the French Revolution, in accordance with a 1793 municipal decree to remove religious and feudal symbols.

The cross of Noailles was commissioned in 1751 by Adrien Maurice, 3rd Duke of Noailles and governor of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, marking the last cross erected in this forest. During the Revolution, not only the cross was removed, but also the inscriptions and coats of arms from the base, in a context of rejection of the monarchical and religious emblems. Although the column was spared, a project to move to the château floor never came into being.

Ranked a historic monument in 1942, the cross was restored in 1953 with a new stone cross, blessed in the presence of members of the Noailles family. This monument thus bears witness to the political and religious upheavals of its time, while remaining a historical and geographical landmark, as evidenced by the levelling marker installed by the IGN on its base.

Architecturally, the Noailles cross consists of a canned and rough column, placed on a curved parallelepipedic base, itself overcoming a round base accessible by two steps. The medallions carved on the base, some with coats of arms, add an artistic and heraldic dimension to the building. Today, it stands at a major road junction, between N184 and D308, still marking the forest landscape and local history.

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