Monument des Pénitents Noirs
The Monument des Pénitents Noirs is located in Faubourg Reclus, a suburb of Chambéry. It was built at the behest of the Pénitents Noirs (Black Penitents), a Christian order tasked with taking care of those sentenced to death, by administering last rites, accompanying them to the gallows and burying the corpses. In Chambéry, they originally gathered around a large cross located at the execution ground near Parc du Verney. But when the park was redesigned in 1860, that cross was moved to the top of the Dent du Nivolet, a mountain above Chambéry: The cross (actually rebuilt a couple of times) is now known as the Croix du Nivolet and is a popular hiking destination. The Penitents also had the Monument built in Faubourg Reclus to serve as a new gathering place.