Creation of the crosshead XVIe siècle (≈ 1650)
Stone sculpture representing the Virgin.
XVIIIe siècle
Integration on a modern monument
Integration on a modern monument XVIIIe siècle (≈ 1850)
Reuse in a later context.
27 mars 1905
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 27 mars 1905 (≈ 1905)
Official protection by ministerial decree.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Sixteenth century crosshead placed on a fountain: by order of 27 March 1905
Key figures
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The source text does not mention any actors.
Origin and history
The crosshead of Sauviat is a stone sculpture dating from the 16th century, located in the Puy-de-Dôme department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It represents the Virgin and the Child and is installed on a fountain, overlooking a modern monument of the eighteenth century. This monument illustrates the late Renaissance religious art, marked by a sober and symbolic expression.
The crosshead was classified as historical monuments by order of 27 March 1905, thereby recognizing its heritage and artistic value. This ranking demonstrates the importance attached to the preservation of religious works of this period, often integrated in urban or rural contexts as elements of public devotion.
Sauviat, like many communes in the region in the 16th century, was marked by a rural and artisanal life, where religious monuments played a central role in community life. Crosses and fountains, often associated with sources or places of passage, served as gathering points and prayer, reflecting local piety and traditions.
The modern monument of the eighteenth century on which the crosshead is installed suggests re-use or subsequent integration, a common practice to preserve ancient elements while adapting them to new uses. This superposition of periods illustrates the evolution of architectural and religious practices in the region.
Today, the crosshead remains a tangible testimony of Sauviat's artistic and spiritual heritage, while being a point of interest for visitors interested in the historical and religious heritage of Auvergne.
