Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The monument to the dead of Salers, delivered on September 15, 1922, was commanded by Colonel Pierre Albert Lapeyre, then mayor of the city. This monument pays tribute to his son, Charles Lapeyre, killed in 1915 during the First World War. Its Gothic style, marked by a broken arch surmounted by a cock, incorporates symbolic elements such as the weapons of the city and the crosses of the Legion of Honour, although no Salers soldier received this distinction. The enigma surrounding this presence remains unresolved.

Located on the promenade of the Church, the monument is inspired by both the ancient triumphal arch and the medieval Gothic, with pieddroits bearing the names of the dead soldiers, accompanied by carved palms and war crosses. It serves as an entrance to a "garden of remembrance", offering views of the Cantal Mountains. Adorned with the dates of the conflict (1914-1918) and the municipal dedication, it has a local anchor while celebrating a national memory.

Designed by the departmental architect Casimir Croizet, the monument was listed as historical monuments by order of 13 March 2019. Its protection recognizes its heritage value, combining commemorative architecture and landscape integration. The cock, a recurring symbol in the monuments to the dead of Croizet, reinforces here the link between Gaulish identity (" gallus") and the duty of memory, in a dialogue between tradition and modernity.

The back of the arch, devoid of decor, contrasts with the ornamental richness of the facade, highlighting a desire for sobriety for the interior spaces of the garden. The bronze plaques, raised by palm trees, list the names of the soldiers, while the scabs house stone plant sculptures. This monument thus illustrates the duality between collective celebration and intimate mourning, characteristic of post-war commemorations in rural areas.

External links