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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The monument to the dead of Nîmes, located in the department of Gard in the Occitan region, pays tribute to the 2,083 soldiers of the commune who died during the First World War, as well as to the victims of other conflicts of the twentieth century (Second World War, Indochina, Algeria). It is distinguished by its circular structure in limestone, 7 meters high, composed of an open sky crypt decorated with a mosaic evoking the battles of 1914-1918. Two high-reliefs surround the entrance: the victorious Patria and the city of Nîmes, while the names of the disappeared are engraved on the perimeter.

Inaugurated on October 13, 1924, the monument replaces a tribute to Paul Soleillet, who was displaced for his construction. Designed by architect Henri Castan and sculptor Auguste Carli, it was erected in April 1923 on the square of 11 November-1918 near the Nîmes arenas. Its wrought iron portal and symbolic elements reflect the 1920s memorial art, blending classicism and patriotic emotion.

Ranked a historic monument since October 18, 2018, it is one of 42 monuments to the dead protected in Occitanie for their artistic and historical value. Owned by the commune, it embodies the collective memory of the sacrifices made during the 20th century wars, while marking the Nîmes urban landscape with its sober and evocative architecture.

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