Column construction XIIe siècle (≈ 1250)
Estimated period of construction of the monument.
18 août 1988
Registration as Historic Monument
Registration as Historic Monument 18 août 1988 (≈ 1988)
Official protection by ministerial decree.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Column, or cemetery cross (Box A 431): inscription by order of 18 August 1988
Origin and history
The column, or cemetery cross, located in Hardinghen (Pas-de-Calais) is an emblematic 12th century monument. This type of building, often linked to medieval funeral spaces, served as a spiritual and social landmark for local communities. Its registration as a Historic Monument in 1988 underlines its heritage importance, although its exact location remains approximate (level 6/10 depending on the sources).
In the 12th century, the Hauts-de-France, then part of Flanders or Artois County, were marked by a rural and religious society. The cross or cemetery columns played a central role in funeral rites, symbolizing the boundary between the sacred and the profane. These monuments, often erected near the churches, also reflected the community organization around the parishes, where death and collective memory occupied a prominent place.
