Construction of the cross XIIIe-XIVe siècles (≈ 1450)
Estimated period of its creation.
1956
Restoration of the cross
Restoration of the cross 1956 (≈ 1956)
Intervention of a mason of Cormatin.
31 octobre 1991
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 31 octobre 1991 (≈ 1991)
Official protection by order.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Cross of road known as the White Cross (no CADASTRE box; PUBLIC AREA): classification by order of 31 October 1991
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any actors.
Origin and history
La Croix blanche de Bonnay is a cross of catholic road located in the department of Saône-et-Loire, in the territory of Bonnay-Saint-Ythaire. Dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, it is distinguished by its particular architecture: a square base, an octagonal prismatic pedestal, and a drum composed of eight stacked stone cylinders forming a column of 4 meters. Its trilobed ends evoke the so-called antifixed crosses. Its implantation suggests that it may have served as a marker for the separation between the Mâconnais and the Duchy of Burgundy.
Ranked a historic monument by decree of 31 October 1991, the cross was in ruins before being restored in 1956 by a mason of Cormatin. Today it belongs to the commune of Bonnay-Saint-Ythaire. Its style and location make it a rare testimony of the medieval crosses of Burgundy, often linked to religious or territorial functions.
The structure of the cross, with its octagonal pedestal and stacked elements, reflects medieval construction techniques. Although its exact use remains uncertain, its position at the boundary of two historical territories reinforces the hypothesis of a delineation function. The cross of paths, frequent in the Middle Ages, also served as a reference point for pilgrims or travellers, while affirming the Christian presence in the landscape.
