Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The 14th century stone cross located in Orcet, Puy-de-Dôme, is a historical monument classified since 1907. Tasted in the Volvic stone, typical of the region, it has a refined Gothic style, with a four-leaf openwork with flowered lobes. On one side, it represents Christ on the cross, while the other side shows the Virgin to the Child, surrounded by characters backed one another. This type of sculpture reflects medieval religious art, combining symbolism and technical finesse.

Classified as a Historical Monument by decree of 16 June 1907, this cross belongs today to the commune of Orcet. Its location, although documented (27 Bis Rue des Percedes), remains approximated according to available sources, with a location accuracy considered fair. Volvic Stone, a local volcanic material, has allowed remarkable conservation despite centuries, while offering resistance to weather.

The work takes place in the context of medieval monumental crosses, often erected at crossroads or near churches to mark a place of devotion or assembly. These monuments played a major social and spiritual role in rural communities, serving as a visual landmark and support for collective piety. Their iconography, as here with Christ and the Virgin, aimed to educate and inspire the faithful in a context where illiteracy was widespread.

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