Court Orders Removal of Hilltop Cross in Robion
In February 2026, the Administrative Court of Nîmes ordered the mayor of Robion to remove a wooden cross located on a hill overlooking the village, ruling that it had been installed after the 1905 law on the separation of Church and State.
In February 2026, the Administrative Court of Nîmes ordered the mayor of Robion to remove a wooden cross located on a hill overlooking the village, ruling that it had been installed after the 1905 law on the separation of Church and State. The decision reflects ongoing tensions in France over the presence of religious symbols in public spaces and their compatibility with the principle of laïcité.
The cross, known as the “Croix de Corilou”, is situated a short walking distance from the centre of the village in the Luberon region. In 2022, the secularist association La Libre Pensée requested that the mayor remove the cross in order to “restore the neutrality of public space.” The mayor refused, which led to legal proceedings that culminated in the recent court ruling. The Administrative Court of Nîmes ultimately ordered that the cross be relocated to private property. The mayor has announced that he will appeal the decision.
The case has sparked debate within the local community. Several residents expressed frustration at the ruling, while others noted that the cross forms part of the village’s identity. Mayor Patrick Sintes defended its presence, arguing that it has both historical and memorial significance. He explained that the cross had been restored a few years after the murder of a young woman from the village in 2017, giving it a commemorative dimension, and questioned why its presence should be considered problematic.
Representatives of La Libre Pensée argued that the display of religious symbols in public space is incompatible with the principle of state neutrality. They claimed that public areas should not be marked by religious monuments, regardless of denomination, and that such installations are prohibited under French law.
A central issue in the case concerned the date of installation of the cross. While the mayor indicated that its origins are difficult to determine, the applicant association argued that it had been erected after the 1905 law, which governs the relationship between religion and the state in France. The court accepted this argument and based its decision on the assumption that the cross falls under the restrictions introduced by that law.
The 1905 law on the separation of Church and State establishes a strict model of secularism, including limitations on the display of religious symbols in public spaces. While it aims to ensure state neutrality, its application has been subject to ongoing debate, particularly in light of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs, including in public. The interpretation of neutrality as requiring the removal of visible religious expressions may raise questions regarding the balance between state neutrality and individual or collective religious freedom.
The ruling has also prompted public mobilisation. A petition calling to “save the Croix de Corilou” and prevent its removal gathered more than 11,000 signatures within a short period.
Souce: FRANCEBLEU.fr / LaMarseillaise
Photo: MesOpinions