Construction of the cross XVIe siècle (≈ 1650)
Estimated period of construction of the monument.
29 juillet 1963
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 29 juillet 1963 (≈ 1963)
Official date of protection by order.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Granite crossing located on the square: classification by decree of 29 July 1963
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character identified
The source text does not mention any names.
Origin and history
The granite cross of Vebret, dated from the 16th century, is a historical monument classified by decree of 29 July 1963. It is distinguished by its extremities adorned with florets with curly leaves, as well as by a diamond-shaped, openworked and serrated nimble, connecting the arms and the stand. This type of cross, often placed at intersections or in cemeteries, served as a spiritual landmark and symbol of protection for travellers and residents.
On the north side, the cross represents Christ on the cross, framed by two women dressed in long clothes and wearing veils. The ends of the arms end with original sculptures: a human bust on the right and a contorted figure on the left. The south side, on the other hand, shows the Virgin with the Child, crowned and dressed in various clothes, with details like a mask at the top of the cross and a crouched figure on the left. Although located today in the centre of the village, this cross would probably come from the old Vebret cemetery.
Crosses of crossroads, frequent in Auvergne from the Middle Ages, often marked places of assembly or parish boundaries. Their iconography, combining religious symbols and decorative motifs, reflected local beliefs and served as support for popular devotion. These monuments, in addition to their spiritual role, were landmarks in often isolated landscapes, such as those of the Cantal.
