Construction of the cross XIIe siècle - XIIIe siècle (≈ 1250)
Estimated period of construction.
16 septembre 1953
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 16 septembre 1953 (≈ 1953)
Official registration date.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Cross near the church: inscription by decree of 16 September 1953
Origin and history
La Croix de Saint-Maclou is an emblematic monument located in the commune of Saint-Maclou, Normandy. Dated from the 12th and 13th centuries, this monumental cross is distinguished by its seniority and its implantation in the heart of the village, place of the church. It was redeveloped to integrate into the public space, with a facade overlooking the departmental road 675, connecting Saint-Maclou to Beuzeville. Its exact location is also associated with national roads 815 and 180, depending on administrative sources.
Classified as a historical monument by decree of 16 September 1953, this cross bears witness to the importance of religious symbols in the spatial and social organization of Norman medieval villages. Its listing as historic monuments underscores its heritage value, although the available archives do not specify the exact circumstances of its construction or its possible sponsors. The cross today belongs to the commune of Saint-Maclou.
In medieval times, monumental crosses were often used as spiritual or memorial landmarks, marking village entrances, crossroads or assembly places. In the Norman context of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, these monuments reflected both local piety and the influence of the Church in everyday life. Their presence strengthened community ties and provided a visual landmark in landscapes often dominated by agriculture and regional trade.
