Lanterne des morts de Cellefrouin

Cellefrouin

At the top of the village of Cellefrouin, in the cemetery, stands a bundle of eight columns set on five steps. Four columns are large, four smaller, and their clawed bases date the construction to the late 12th century. The whole exceeds twelve metres and bears a cone covered with stone scales. Four small windows pierce the base of the cone, one above each large column, to let the light shine out; a fifth opening let the smoke escape. The lamp was hoisted by an interior duct, from a niche opening at a height of three metres. Viollet-le-Duc, in his Dictionnaire raisonné, makes it one of his examples and notes that a ladder was needed to light the lamp. The Mérimée record dates it to the 12th century and it was listed in 1886. The Merovingian tombs found on the spot attest the antiquity of the place.

French Ministry of Culture — Mérimée database, lanterne des morts de Cellefrouin ↗

Getting there: In the communal cemetery, at the top of the village of Cellefrouin, north-east of Angoulême; reached by steps from the main street; free access.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound