Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Four Blacktable justice pillars are medieval monuments erected in the 14th century. They materialize the border between two former provinces: the Forez, attached to the County of Lyon and then to the Kingdom of France, and the Auvergne, land of influence of the Dukes of Bourbon. Their presence illustrates the typical tensions and territorial agreements of the late Middle Ages, where boundaries served as much to delimit seigneurial rights as to regulate conflicts between rural communities.

Classified as a Historical Monument by decree of 29 December 1949, these pillars are among the few concrete remains of the medieval judicial administration in rural areas. Their location at the edge of Forez and Auvergne underlines their role in the application of local customs and rights of justice, often shared between several lords. Today, they offer a tangible testimony of the political and territorial structures that organized the life of the French countryside before the Revolution.

The accuracy of their current location is assessed as poor (note 5/10), reflecting the difficulties in accurately locating old border routes. Their designation as Historic Monuments aims to preserve these fragile markers, threatened by erosion and landscape transformation. Their study provides a better understanding of the power dynamics and legal practices in the walking areas, which are often disputed border areas.

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