Christian Cross at Vieux Chaillol Summit Vandalised
A Christian cross at the summit of Vieux Chaillol was vandalised, with its horizontal arm sawn off on 15 August 2026. The cross had religious significance for Christians as well as a local historical and memorial significance, and the Diocese announced a complaint and a Mass of Reparation following the incident.
The incident occurred on 15 August 2026, at the summit of Vieux Chaillol, Hautes-Alpes. The cross, located at over a 3000m altitude, was found damaged, with its horizontal arm apparently sawn off.
The cross had been installed and blessed in August 2024. According to the Diocese of Gap-Embrun, mountain crosses have a religious significance for Christians but also form part of local history and the memory of people who have died in the mountains. The cross has already been vandalised several times in the preceding months, with hikers noticing graffiti in October 2025.
The Bishop, Xavier Malle, expressed his "sadness" at this degradation and further called for the incident not to become a source of division.
The Diocese announced that a complaint would be filed, and the incident would be reported to the national platform for anti-Christian acts. A Mass of Reparation was scheduled for 26 August 2026 at the church of Chaillol.
Source: ledauphine, breizh-info, france3
Image: Social Media