Construction of the cross XVIIe siècle (≈ 1750)
Estimated period of implementation.
1er février 1929
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 1er février 1929 (≈ 1929)
Ministerial Order of Protection.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Cross of 17s: inscription by order of 1 February 1929
Origin and history
The 17th century cross, located in the cemetery of Rougeux, in the department of Haute-Marne (Great East region), is a historical monument inscribed by ministerial decree on 1 February 1929. This type of religious building, typical of the French countryside, served both as a spiritual landmark and a symbol of the Christian faith in rural communities. Its location within the cemetery highlights its memorial role, often associated with funeral practices and local processes.
In the 17th century, Champagne-Ardenne, like other French regions, was marked by a rural society organized around the Church and local lords. Cemetery crosses, frequent in villages, played a central role in collective life: they rhythmized religious celebrations, gatherings and prayers for the deceased. Their preservation until today reflects people's attachment to their heritage, even though local archives on this specific cross remain limited in the available source text.
