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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Crosses of the Blanques are two stone monuments located in Alvimare, Normandy, along the C.V.O. Road 4, near the domaine des Branques. These crosses, dated from the 15th century (with possible origin in the 14th century for one of them), initially marked the boundaries of domains. Their arrangement face to face and their proximity to a chapel give them an architectural and historical singularity.

According to a local legend, these crosses would commemorate a tragic duel between two lords who love a young lady of Mauny, "a bewitching beauty". Refusing to choose between his suitors, they fought until death. The highest cross would symbolize the memory of the one she loved in secret. This romantic and macabre story adds a narrative dimension to the monument.

The oldest and most imposing cross was classified by decree of November 10, 1913. The second, more recent cross, dates from a restoration carried out in the mid-19th century. These monuments, owned by the municipality of Alvimare, bear witness both to the feudal history of the region and to medieval territorial delimitation practices.

Their precise location, at 69 Route de la Chapelle, and their mention in heritage works such as Le Patrimoine des Communes de la Seine-Maritime (1997) underline their cultural importance. Their presence in the historical monuments of the Seine-Maritime and the arrondissement of Le Havre reinforces their heritage value.

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