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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The discoidal steles of Sainte-Radegonde are installed in the enclosure of a disused cemetery adjacent to the church of Saint-Lary. These two tombstones, carved in limestone, are distinguished by their forms: one adopts a circular outline, while the other is polygonal. Their sober decor includes religious motifs, like a cross engraved on one of the faces of each stele, sometimes framed by an oval. These stylistic elements suggest a funeral and Christian vocation, typical of medieval or modern burials in southwestern France.

Classified Historic Monument by decree of 11 April 1959, these steles belong today to the commune of Sainte-Radegonde, in the department of Gers. Their precise location, at 504 Chemin de la Chapelle, remains approximate according to available sources, with a cartographic accuracy deemed "passable". Although their exact dating is not mentioned, their presence in a disused cemetery and their iconography relate to local funeral traditions, where discoidal steles were often used to mark the graves of the deceased, sometimes in connection with religious or community practices.

Their current status and accessibility are not detailed, but their classification reflects their heritage value. These steles illustrate regional funerary art, where limestone, a local material, was frequently used to sculpt lasting monuments. Their conservation in a space now disused highlights the evolution of the uses of cemeteries, moving from active burial sites to protected historic sites.

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