Well, Captain, as you can see on the picture by ceresbeith, there's no more iron cross fixed up on this nice small stone, protected by this big pinetree.
What's left of it is a piece of iron stuck into the hole on top of the stone.
It's worth mentioning that the stone stands on the territorial limit of at least two communities, Alet-les-Bains (Hamlet of Saint-Salvayre) to its south et Limoux to its north.
I've been visiting it last week and have noticed what looks like the remains of some circular engraving on it, some 7 or 8 cms of diameter : It could be the reste of a territorial mark. In that case, this stone has been used as a "borne", which make sense with the proximity of a chapel and an abbay.
I'll send you my photos as soon I'll have resolved how : they are definitively too big !
regards,
Something is not right. This message is just to keep things from messing up down the road