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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The monument to the dead of Camplong is an unusual creation by local sculptor Denis Bousquet, nicknamed Bousquetou. Installed in the communal cemetery, it is distinguished by its naive and symbolic style: a Prussian helmet serves as a base, surmounted by an imperial eagle crushed by a tower and soldiers in prayer, all crowned by a 75 mm cannon. A bas-relief represents a woman crying, adding an emotional dimension to the whole. This monument reflects the artist's personal mourning, having lost a son during the Great War.

Produced in the 1920s at the request of the commune, Bousquetou – a factor, poacher and stone tailor – imposed a condition: to work without a plan. Its artisanal and intuitive approach gives the monument a rare singularity. Ranked as historical monuments in October 2018, it also illustrates the collective memory of a village marked by conflict, where each carved detail carries a strong symbolic burden.

The work is part of the memorial landscape of Occitanie, where monuments to the dead, often sober, contrast with the narrative audacity of Camplong. Its recent registration (2018) highlights its heritage value, both artistic and historical, and its anchoring in local identity. The choice of materials and symbols – the crushed eagle, the flags in the dark – reflects a desire to transmit the pain of war while celebrating resistance.

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