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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The lantern of the dead of Pranzac is a 12th century Romanesque religious building, typical of medieval funeral architecture. This monument, about seven meters high, rests on a base of steps and consists of an empty column topped by a conical bell and a cross. A square opening at the bottom allows access to the inside, while windows at the top let pass the light of a lantern lit at dusk, supposed to guide the souls of the deceased.

Located in the Charente department, on the site of the ancient cemetery of Pranzac, this lantern illustrates medieval beliefs in immortality of the soul. The lanterns of the dead, like this one, served as a religious symbol and called the living to pray for the dead. Their role was both spiritual and commemorative, marking the presence of the missing in the community.

Classified as historical monuments on 1 July 1905, the Lantern of Pranzac is now owned by the municipality. Its structure, with a cornice decorated with carved stars and a cylindrical barrel, reflects the Romanesque craftsmanship of the region. The monument remains a rare testimony of these funeral buildings, often associated with abbeys or medieval cemeteries.

According to the sources, the lantern rests on four steps and its ridge is pierced with small windows. A door above the second seat gives access to the inside of the fan. Although its exact use remains partially interpretive, its symbolic role as a guide for souls is largely attested by studies on the lanterns of the dead in Poitou-Charentes.

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