- A stone cross dated 1579, attached to a house on the village square of Hierges (Ardennes), commemorates a deadly duel that took place on May 1st.
- The story : an argument over a drink between a soldier from Charlemont and the mayor of Vireux-Saint-Martin degenerates into a sword duel, with one death and an expiatory cross imposed as reparation.
- The cross can be visited freely, in the Hierges square, as part of a walk which also passes by the castle and the wooded hamlets of the Val d'Ardenne.
In the main square of Hierges, a small village in the Ardennes nestled within the Ardennes Regional Natural Park, a carved stone cross hangs on the wall of a house. It bears a name that intrigues all passersby: the Duel Cross. Since 1579, it has commemorated a brawl that cost a man his life and the punishment that followed.
Where is the Duel Cross?
The cross is located against the wall of a house on the Place de Hierges , now the restaurant "Le Médiéval" . It is visible all year round, with free access, no set hours or tickets required.
Hierges belongs to the Val d'Ardenne region, on the Franco-Belgian border, in the Meuse valley. The village is easily explored on foot or by bicycle from the Tourist Office, by crossing the bridge and then following the railway line to the village.
The story of the 1579 duel
It all begins on May 1st, the day when farmers traditionally negotiate their seasonal employment. In front of the inn owned by Johan Henquin, a brewer and innkeeper in Hierges, several villagers are seated at tables. Among them is Henry Mayreau, a soldier in the service of the King of Spain, stationed in Charlemont. His brother, Thiry Mayreau, works as a clerk at the castle for the Baron of Hierges, Gilles de Berlaymont.
The alcohol flowed freely, the atmosphere was convivial, until the arrival of Jehan Collin, mayor of Vireux-Saint-Martin. Henry Mayreau accused him of making remarks that damaged his reputation. Jehan Collin denied it. The argument escalated. Henry Mayreau entered the inn, grabbed his sword from a nail, and struck Jehan Collin on the head and hand. Jehan Collin drew his sword in turn and landed three blows that brought his opponent to the ground. Henry Mayreau died of his wounds.
The Judgment and the Birth of the Cross
On June 13, 1579, the Baron of Hierges ruled that Jehan Collin had acted in self-defense. He released him but forbade him for life from ever setting foot on the lands of Hierges again. The sentence didn't end there: Jehan Collin had to pay 600 gold florins to the victim's orphans and erect an expiatory cross at the very spot of the murder.
This practice was not isolated for the time: the expiatory cross was a common form of reparation in the Ardennes and Namur region in the 15th and 16th centuries, between seigneurial justice and religious penance.
What the stone tells us
The cross bears an inscription engraved on its base, still legible today: "Here Henry Mayreau was killed by Jehan Collin, Mayor of Vireux-les-Hebbes. On May 1, 1579. Pray for his soul."
Four sculpted medallions adorn the ends of the monument. The eagle of Saint John on the left, the bull of Saint Luke on the right, the angel of Saint Matthew at the top and the lion of Saint Mark at the bottom — the four traditional symbols of the evangelists, a classic iconographic choice for a devotional cross of this period.
Visiting the Croix du Duel: directions and surroundings
The cross is part of an easy walking trail that bears its name, starting from the Val d'Ardenne Tourist Office. The route crosses the bridge over the Meuse, runs alongside the railway line, passes in front of the Hierges cemetery and then crosses a footbridge over the Joncquière stream before arriving at the village square.
Along the way, the walk also offers a glimpse of the Château de Hierges, built in the Mosan Renaissance style, and the collegiate church of Vireux-Molhain. The wooded sections cross the Vireux-Molhain National Nature Reserve and the peaceful hedgerows of the Deluve Valley.
Hierges, a village to explore beyond the cross
The Croix du Duel is just one of Hierges' landmarks. The feudal castle , still inhabited, overlooks the village. The Church of Saint John the Baptist, built in the second half of the 16th century and listed as a Historical Monument, is also worth a visit: it preserves 17th-century stained-glass windows and a statue of Christ on the cross.
In addition, the village of Hierges was elected "Most Beautiful Village of France" in September 2025, the first time an Ardennes village has received this prestigious label.
A stone's throw from the cross, the The village of Hierges and its castle They are revealed with their cobbled streets and blue stone houses: a stop in its own right to extend the walk in the Val d'Ardenne.
Where exactly is the Duel Cross located?
It is fixed to the wall of the restaurant "Le Médiéval" on the village square of Hierges, in the Ardennes, a few steps from the old tavern.
What does the inscription engraved on the cross mean?
She reminds us that Henry Mayreau was killed on May 1, 1579 by Jehan Collin, mayor of Vireux-Saint-Martin, and invites the passerby to pray for the soul of the deceased.
Why was this cross built?
It was imposed by the Baron of Hierges on Jehan Collin as reparation for the homicide, in addition to a fine paid to the victim's orphans and a life banishment.
Can the cross be viewed freely?
Yes, it is located in a public space, freely accessible, at any time of the year.
Is there a route to discover it?
Yes, the "La Croix du Duel" circuit connects the Val d'Ardenne Tourist Office to the village of Hierges, passing by the castle and the Deluve valley.
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