Erection of the Cross 1635 (≈ 1635)
For the Duke of Saint-Simon, local governor.
1836
First restoration
First restoration 1836 (≈ 1836)
Rehabilitation after the Revolution.
Période révolutionnaire (fin XVIIIe siècle)
Destruction of the cross
Destruction of the cross Période révolutionnaire (fin XVIIIe siècle) (≈ 1895)
Reversed during the French Revolution.
17 décembre 1926
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 17 décembre 1926 (≈ 1926)
Listed in the inventory of monuments.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Cross Saint-Simon, in the forest: inscription by decree of 17 December 1926
Key figures
Duc de Saint-Simon - Governor of Castles and Forest
Suspected commander of the cross in 1635.
Origin and history
La Croix Saint-Simon de Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a cross of paths erected according to tradition in 1635 for the Duke of Saint-Simon, then governor of the castles, parks and forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. This monument, dated the 2nd quarter of the 17th century, bears witness to the importance of religious symbols in public space at that time, often linked to influential local figures.
The cross was overthrown during the French Revolution, a fate common to many religious monuments during this period. It was restored for the first time in 1836, but a recent accident was damaged again, requiring a restoration in progress. An inscription on the monument recalls its origins and its link with the Duke of Saint-Simon.
Ranked as a Historical Monument by decree of 17 December 1926, the Cross Saint-Simon is located in the forest, near the place known as 6 Mf De La Croix Saint-Simon. Its location, although known, remains approximate (accuracy estimated at 7/10). This monument illustrates both the religious heritage and the local history of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, marked by its link with the court and the royal governors.
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