Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Monument to the Dead of the Great War of Saint Denis, located in La Réunion, is a commemorative column erected at the beginning of the twentieth century. It is located in the city centre, at the intersection of Avenue de la Victoire and Rue de Paris, near the city hall. This monument, inaugurated in 1923, consists of a granite column topped by a marble angel holding a laurel crown, symbol of victory. The base, adorned with palms and bronze studs, houses a urn containing a plot of "French land", sealed in 1941.

The monument was financed by a public subscription launched in 1918, reflecting the collective desire to pay tribute to the Dionysian soldiers who died during the First World War. At its inauguration, The People highlighted its role as a "sustainable witness to the bloody and painful epic", embodying the memory of the sacrifices made. The column, including its base, was listed at the Historic Monuments on October 17, 2007, recognizing its heritage and symbolic value.

Architecturally, the monument is distinguished by its pedestal chamfered at the foothills with volutes, surrounded by a walk. It marks a strategic roundabout in the city centre, linking local history and national memory. His iconography, combining allegory of Victory and military references (buses, palms), illustrates the post-war memorial challenges, where each French commune sought to honor its dead through perennial buildings.

External links