Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The monument to the dead of Lezoux, located on Rue des Augustins, is a stone building in Escorolles sandstone and Lavoux stone, commissioned in 1922 by the municipality. It consists of a central high-relief representing an allegorical female figure from France, wearing a phrygian cap, holding an olive branch and a sword, crushing an eagle under his feet. This panel is framed by two side bas-reliefs illustrating scenes of war: hairy in combat, wounded soldiers, and a nurse in gesture of imploration. The names of the military fronts are engraved on the surrounding stones.

The construction of the monument was entrusted to the sculptor Raoul Mabru, who signed in June 1924 a contract of 26 500 francs with the city. Major works and transport are carried out by municipal services. Initially planned with a wrought iron encirclement and grilling, designed by Pierre Berthier in 1931-1932, this element is finally removed during subsequent redevelopments. After World War II, an additional stele, carved by Mabru, was added in front of the monument. It represents a guerrilla, a soldier and a deportee, paying tribute to the victims of this conflict.

The monument, owned by the commune, is inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 13 March 2019. His iconography combines patriotic symbols (victory, peace) and realistic scenes of the Great War, reflecting both the homage to the dead and the aspiration to peace. The accuracy of its location is considered satisfactory a priori, although its exact address varied between rue des Augustins and 2bis rue Marechal Leclerc, according to the sources.

External links