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Origin and history

The lantern of the dead of Felletin is a medieval funeral monument located in the cemetery of the commune of Felletin, in the department of Creuse (Nouvelle-Aquitaine). Dating from the 13th century, it was originally located in the old cemetery of the chapel of Beaumont. This type of construction, typical of Limousin, was probably used to guide the souls of the deceased or to symbolize divine light in the necropolises.

In 1877, the lantern was dismantled during the decommissioning of the Beaumont cemetery. It was not relocated until 1930, this time in the current cemetery of Felletin. Its current circular base, consisting of three granite steps, replaces the original, wider, four-degree walk. The octagonal structure, 8 meters high, is surmounted by a campanile pierced with eight bays in full hanger and a conical roof made of cut stones.

Ranked a historic monument by decree of 12 July 1886, the lantern received a restoration in 1986, led by the students of the trades school of the Felletin building. A technical feature is its rope system, accessible by a closed opening of a wooden vantail at a height of 1.50 meters, allowing to raise a lamp at the top. The polygonal arrow is crowned with an iron cross, characteristic of the lanterns of the limousine dead.

Its history reflects the changes in funeral spaces: transferred for practical reasons, it also reflects the attachment of local communities to their heritage. Today owned by the commune, it remains a remarkable example of medieval funeral architecture, combining religious symbolism and artisanal granite know-how.

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