Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Fabrezan Memorial to the Dead, located in the Aude in Occitanie, was erected in 1927 to honour the 94 soldiers of the commune who died during the First World War, as well as the victims of subsequent conflicts (Second World War, Indochina, Algeria). It is distinguished by its neoclassical architecture: an altar surmounted by a triangular portal in Ferrals stone, in front of which a statue in white marble symbolizes France. The engraved marble plates list the names of the disappeared by year, while ornaments such as laurel garlands and urns complete the whole.

Designed by architects Marcel Seignouret and Henri Gibert, the monument was initially the subject of a competition in 1923, won by sculptor Marcel Hérans for a bronze hair project. However, tensions with the commune led to the choice in 1925 of the current project, with a marble statue of Firmin Michelet, inspired by ancient temples. The monument, a communal property, has been listed as a historical monument since 18 October 2018 for its artistic and memorial value, among 42 other similar monuments in Occitanie.

The site, located at the intersection of Café-Peyrou and Ancienne-Gare Avenues, is 5 metres high and 9 metres wide. The commemorative plaques were gradually added, especially after 1945 to include the deaths of the Indochina and Algeria wars. A stone border delimits a floor around the monument, reinforcing its solemn character. The names of the architects (J. M. Seignouret - H. Gibert) and the sculptor are engraved on the base, attesting to their collaboration.

The history of the monument reflects local debates about its shape: the rejection of bronze in favor of marble, or the choice of an allegory rather than a hairy one, illustrate the post-war memorial stakes. Today, there remains a central gathering place for the community, classified for its architecture and its role in the collective memory of 20th century conflicts.

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