The Enigmatic Renaissance Temple in Moeze

The village of Moëze owes a monument that is unique in Europe. It is called “Croix Hosannière” or temple. It is located in the cemetery of this charming village of Charente Maritime, only a few kilometers from the Atlantic Coast. This is a sort of mausoleum surrounded by fluted columns and topped with a pyramid and cross. There is no indication of date, no document was found to give Art historians any clue on this curious edifice. However, its architecture consisting of Corinthian columns and composite elements enables to date it back to the XVIth century, the French Renaissance.

The twenty fluted columns rise on a stone dedecagonal platform of 2.80 m, they have a diameter of 25 cm and support the entablature. The ceiling is exquisitely panelled.  Stairs give access to the monument. The height from the basis to the summit of the pyramid is 9.61 m. If you observe carefully, you will notice that the angles face the four cardinal points. The old cross that crowned the edifice was destroyed during the Revolution and was replaced.

All around the monument, on the fronton, the verse of the Gospel according to Saint-Matthew was finely carved, and belongs to the Palm Mass: “Pueri-Hebreorum-Tollentis Ramos Olivarum Obviaverunt Domino Lamantes Et Dicentes Hosanna In Excelsis” (The children of the Hebrews carrying olive palms came to meet the Lord, shouting and singing Hosanna in Heaven”. We observe that this verse includes the word “Tollentes” whereas in the Roman Liturgy introduced in the diocese in 1555, it was said “Portantes”. This would date the construction before 1555. Some historians think it was in 1540 under François I, and would assign the construction of the Moëze temple to the Italian architects and stone carvers that Guillot de Genouillac had brought with him from Vicenza.

Despite bizarre suppositions which were proposed as to its purpose, such as a mausoleum or a monument in honor of Richelieu when the ramparts of the nearby city of Brouage were erected, wouldn’t it be reasonable to see here a monumental cross intended for the celebration of the Palm Mass? Thus the name “Croix Hosannière” in reference to the liturgy. On the salient stone, used as a desk, one can read: “Occurunt Turbae Cum Floribus Et Palmis” (The crowds will come running with flowers and palms).  It is natural to believe that the builders probably were the lords of Soubise, the Parthenay-Larchevêque family who were in close relationship with Renée de France, Duchess of Ferrara between 1510 and 1535. This would explain the Classical Style of the monument that was listed in 1886. 

The intriguing monument in Moëze.

The entablature with the Verse from the Gospel according to Saint-Matthew. 

The monument as seen from the spire of the church.

All photos by the author. Copyright François Hagnere, August 2010.