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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Cross of the Market of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val is a stone carved cross, dated from the 14th century, although some stylistic elements suggest a realization or modification in the 15th or 16th centuries. It is distinguished by its disc shape, similar to the Basque crosses. On her front face, she represents a cross Christ framed by the Virgin and Saint John, while the rear face shows the crowned Virgin bearing the Child Jesus, accompanied by Saint Antonin and Saint Eloi. These iconographic representations, together with its initial location, suggest that it was a cross of a corporation, linked to local commercial or craft activities.

The cross was moved to its current location, Place de la Halle, probably between 1841 and 1843, when the market hall was built, or shortly thereafter. This shift reflects the urban transformations of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val in the 19th century, where historical monuments were sometimes redeveloped to integrate into new public spaces. The cross was classified as Historic Monument by decree of 9 December 1926, thus recognizing its heritage value. It is now owned by the municipality and remains an artistic and religious testimony to the medieval and modern history of the region.

The sculpted representations of Saint Antonin and Saint Eloi, patrons respectively of hermits and blacksmiths, reinforce the hypothesis of a link with local corporations. Saint Antonin, in particular, is closely associated with the city that bears his name, founding a monastery in the fifth century and becoming a guardian figure for the community. The presence of these saints, as well as the Virgin with the Child holding an open book, symbolize both religious devotion and medieval social organization, where trades and commerce were often placed under the protection of holy figures.

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