Presumed construction XIIIe siècle (≈ 1350)
Estimated period of construction.
8 février 1928
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 8 février 1928 (≈ 1928)
Order of inscription of the monument.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Memorial said La Croix Cesine, in the forest of Saint-Gobain, section 20 bis: inscription by order of 8 February 1928
Origin and history
La Croix Cesine is a memorial located in the commune of Saint-Nicolas-aux-Bois, in the department of Aisne (Hauts-de-France). Dating from the 13th century, this cross is distinguished by its establishment in the forest of Saint-Gobain, a place full of history and local traditions. It was listed as historic monuments by order of 8 February 1928, recognizing its heritage value and importance to the territory.
The monument now belongs to a private company, which limits its accessibility to the public. Its precise location, in section 20 bis of the forest of Saint-Gobain, is marked by an approximate address: 68 Rue des Huppeux. Although the details of its exact origin or initial function remain unclear in the available sources, its inscription in the heritage bears witness to its role in local history, probably linked to religious, commemorative or symbolic practices specific to the Middle Ages.
In the 13th century, crosses of this type often served as spiritual landmarks or markers for pilgrims, travellers or rural communities. In a region such as Picardie (now integrated with Hauts-de-France), marked by strong agricultural and forestry activity, these monuments could also delimit territories or mark places of assembly. Their presence reflected the importance of the Christian faith in the social and spatial organization of medieval villages.
