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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The carved cross of Gentioux-Pigrolles, dated from the 4th quarter of the 15th or 16th century, is distinguished by its granite architectural structure. Its base rests on quadrangular blocks forming a table, surmounted by a cubic base with pyramidal base. The octagonal drum, embedded in this base, supports a cross with cubic arms adorned with stylized florets. The west side presents a cross-shaped Christ framed by the Virgin and St John, while the face bears a crowned Virgin with the Child, standing on a protruding base. These sculptures illustrate late medieval Christian iconography, typical of the rural regions of Limousin.

Classified as a Historical Monument by order of 12 September 1963, this cross is located in the cemetery of the hamlet of Pallier, on the commune of Gentioux-Pigrolles (code Insee 23090, department of Creuse). The monument, a communal property, bears witness to the local funerary and religious art, marked by the use of granite and geometric or stylized plant motifs. Its location in a cemetery underscores its memorial and spiritual role within the community, reflecting devotional practices of the 15th to 16th centuries in rural areas.

The location of the cross, although documented (address: In the cemetery of the hamlet of Pallier), is considered of poor accuracy (note 5/10), according to the available data. There is no information on its current accessibility or conservation status, but its listing as Historic Monuments guarantees heritage protection. Visual sources, such as Creative Commons licensed photographs (credit: Aubussonnais), complement the textual archives from the Merimée and Monumentum bases.

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