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Monument to the dead à Chalon-sur-Saône en Saône-et-Loire

Saône-et-Loire

Monument to the dead

    Quai Gambetta
    71100 Chalon-sur-Saône
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Monument aux morts
Crédit photo : Chabe01 - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1900
2000
1920
Project launch
21 décembre 1921
Validation of location
8 juin 1923
Project approval
20 octobre 1926
Reception of the monument
1er novembre 1926
Inauguration
7 avril 2016
Registration for historical monuments
30 septembre 2020
Classification of historical monuments
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

In total the monument to the dead, located on the plaza of the Legion of Honor, along the Gambetta quay, on the non-cadastre public domain, section CK of the cadastre, as delimited on the plan annexed to the decree: classification by order of 30 September 2020

Key figures

Alfred Rochette - Sculptor Author of the monument and its sculptures.
Tony Garnier - Architect, Grand Prix of Rome Validated the final artistic changes.
Larrivé - Sculptor and director of the Fine Arts of Lyon Approved project improvements.
Edmond Malo - Architect Present at the reception of the monument.
André Lesne - Architect Present at the reception of the monument.
Pierre Boullier - Architect Present at the reception of the monument.

Origin and history

The Chalon-sur-Saône Memorial to the Dead is a memorial dedicated to the city's soldiers who died during the First World War. It is located on the plaza of the Legion of Honor, along the Gambetta wharf. This monument, designed by sculptor Alfred Rochette, is made of Puillenay stone and depicts scenes from the lives of soldiers at the front, as well as allegories like the Victoire. The names of the battles and deceased soldiers are engraved with commemorative inscriptions.

The project was launched in 1920 by the municipal council, which decided to install the monument on the docks. After several administrative stages and the validation of the Rochette project, the monument was received on October 20, 1926 and inaugurated on November 1 of the same year. It has been listed as a historical monument since 7 April 2016, and is classified in full on 30 September 2020.

The monument consists of a masonry massif carved on its four sides, illustrating various scenes: soldiers in the trenches, evacuation of the wounded, manufacture of weapons, and aviation. The major war zones of the First World War are also mentioned, from the North Sea to Dardanelles. A winged figure of the Victoire dominates the whole, symbolizing the glory and honour of the fallen soldiers for France.

Alfred Rochette's initial estimate accurately describes the decorative elements, including a frieze of soldiers, inscriptions such as HONOR-GLORIA or A OUR MORTS FOR FRANCE, as well as a war cross. Although the final allegory differs slightly from the original project, this modification was validated by experts such as Tony Garnier and Larrivé, who saw an artistic improvement.

Funding for the monument was provided by locally harvested resources, and its location was discussed, in particular to move the departmental road and free the necessary space on the Gambetta wharf. The monument is now owned by the municipality of Chalon-sur-Saône and remains an important symbol of local collective memory.

External links