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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The cross of Cherves-Richemont stands on the Church Square, a place that once served as a cemetery. This historic monument consists mainly of an ancient stone base, dated between the 15th and 16th centuries. This base, of cubic shape with soft corners, is decorated with three crosses carved on its vertical faces, while the fourth had an inscription today disappeared. A relief boudin and a chamfer at its base add to its characteristic ornaments of medieval times.

The upper part of the cross, in ironwork, is an addition of the 19th century, probably replacing an older structure. The base, the only element protected by a decree of inscription in 1932, bears witness to the symbolic importance of this monument in local history. The cross once marked the sacred space of the cemetery, a central place in the community and religious life of Cherves-Richemont.

The location of this monument, although documented (place de l'Église, 16370 Cherves-Richemont), remains approximate according to the available sources, with a cartographic accuracy deemed mediocre. Owned by the commune, the cross illustrates the funeral and religious heritage of the Poitou-Charentes region, now integrated into New Aquitaine.

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