Construction of the obelisk 1765 (≈ 1765)
Edited by Claude-Nicolas Ledoux at the road crossing.
4e quart XVIIIe siècle
Construction period
Construction period 4e quart XVIIIe siècle (≈ 1887)
Context of local road developments.
19 juin 1972
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 19 juin 1972 (≈ 1972)
Official protection by ministerial decree.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Obelisk: by order of 19 June 1972
Key figures
Claude-Nicolas Ledoux - Architect
Designer of the obelisk in 1765.
Origin and history
The obelisk of Saint-Augustin, located in the Seine-et-Marne department, is an emblematic monument of 14 meters high, erected at the crossroads of roads D25 and D402. Built in 1765 by architect Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, it marks the intersection between the old road from Touquin to Faremoutiers and a new road linking Coulommiers to Rozay. Its location, slightly shifted to align with Mauperthuis Castle, reflects an aesthetic and functional will.
Ranked as historical monuments in 1972, this Egyptian inspired obelisk bears witness to the architectural influences of the time. Its construction is part of a broader road development project aimed at modernising connections between the surrounding cities. The accuracy of its location, noted as "passable" (level 5/10), and its official address (1 Rue de l'Obelisque) make it a historical landmark still visible today.
Available sources, including Wikipedia, Monumentum and the Merimée base, confirm its status as a protected monument. The architect Ledoux, known for his neoclassical achievements, brought a distinctive touch, mixing road utility and architectural symbolism. The obelisk remains a rare example of this type of construction in Île-de-France, linked to 18th-century urban planning and communication networks of the time.
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