Construction of lantern 2e quart XVIe siècle (≈ 1637)
Estimated period of construction of the monument.
23 février 1965
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 23 février 1965 (≈ 1965)
Protection order for monuments.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Lantern of the Dead (Cd. G 183): Order of 23 February 1965
Origin and history
La Lanterne des Morts de Coublanc is an emblematic building located in the cemetery of this village of the Great East. Built during the second quarter of the 16th century, it embodies a type of funeral monument typical of the late Middle Ages, often associated with commemorative or symbolic practices related to death. Its architecture and location in a sacred space reflect the beliefs and rituals of the time, although its precise uses in Coublanc are not detailed in the available sources.
Classified as a Historical Monument by order of 23 February 1965, this lantern is now protected as a national heritage. It is identified under cadastre G 183 and belongs to the commune of Coublanc, in the department of Haute-Marne. The available data indicate an approximate location near the castle, but geographical accuracy remains limited, with a score of 5/10 depending on the Merimée base. This monument illustrates the importance of funeral buildings in the rural villages of the Renaissance, where they served as both a spiritual landmark and a community symbol.
The historical context of the Haute-Marne in the 16th century is marked by a rural society organized around the Church and local lords. The lanterns of the dead, although less common in this period than in the Middle Ages, could still be erected to honor the dead or serve as a place of prayer. Their presence in the cemeteries reflected a continuity of religious traditions, despite the upheavals associated with the Protestant Reformation and the then religious wars that affected the region. In Coublanc, as in other villages, these monuments played a role in the collective memory and structure of the sacred space.