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Origin and history

The Vienna Memorial to the Dead, inaugurated in 1923, is a commemorative work dedicated to First World War soldiers. It is distinguished by a monumental Victory welcoming visitors at the entrance to the city, accompanied by a poignant inscription: "By the way, remember. / To the memory and glory of the war fighters." The base, decorated with bas-reliefs representing soldiers, trenches and a tank, evokes the realities of the front. A scene of a soldier carrying an injured person recalls the myth of Aenea saving Anchise, highlighting heroism and sacrifice.

The monument is the result of a competition won by architect Mathieu Forest and sculptor Claude Grange, winner of the Rome Prize in 1913 and originally from Vienna. Its strategic location, at the crossroads of the Cours Brilliet, the Cours Romestang and the Rue Victor-Hugo, aims to challenge passers-by, although this location on a narrow roundabout is now harmful to its development. The reverse of the monument reproduces the text of the Armistice of 1918, written by Jean de Pierrefeu and read by Marshal Pétain, anchoring the work in national history.

Ranked among the Historical Monuments since 2019, this monument embodies both a local tribute and a universal symbol of peace. Its protection specifically concerns the structure located Place Pierre-Sémard, although its cadastral is not specified. The city of Vienna is the owner, guaranteeing its preservation for future generations. The weather, however, altered some reliefs, recalling the fragility of material memory in the face of time.

The available sources, including Monumentum and Mérimée data, confirm its exact address: 3 place Pierre-Sémard, 38200 Vienna, in the department of Isère (region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes). The Insee code of the municipality (38544) and the Creative Commons license of associated photographs (credit: SashiRolls) complete the administrative and cultural information related to this heritage.

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