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Origin and history

The road cross of Heuland, also called the Rollon Cross, is a stone monument erected in the 16th century. Located at the crossroads known as the Croix-d'Heuland, in the municipality of the same name in Normandy, it has been listed as a historical monument since 17 May 1933. His name evokes the Viking leader Rollon, although this association is historically discussed, even anachronistic. The present cross, carved from a Christ on a cross and from a Virgin Mary, probably replaces an older 14th century cross, now disappeared or displaced.

According to the sources, the 14th-century cross, considered the true "Rollon Cross", was decorated with humps in the half-sphere, symbolizing the ravages of the black plague in the region. A local legend, unbelievable in terms of dates, tells that Rollon hung his jewels there to test the loyalty of the inhabitants. The current 16th century cross illustrates rather the religious art of the Norman Renaissance, with degraded but still visible sculptures.

The confusion between this cross and that of the Mare aux Poix, located in the nearby municipality of Branville, shows the symbolic importance of these monuments in the collective memory. The cross of Heuland, owned by the commune, remains an architectural and historical testimony of medieval piety and epidemics that marked Normandy. Its location at the crossroads also makes it a geographical and cultural landmark for residents and visitors.

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