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The monument to the dead of Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, is one of the few pacifist monuments in France. He is distinguished by his representation of a couple: a woman crying and a man breaking a sword, symbolizing pain and revolt at the loss of a son during the First World War (1914-1918). This conflict, the first to involve so many countries, caused more than 8 million deaths and 6 million invalids, deeply affecting the population.

The monument bears the pacifist inscription "Pax, Vox Populi", title of a poem by Mayor Victorin Maurel engraved on its structure. He also represents a man breaking his sword on his knee, with a woman crying behind him. At the top, a terrestrial globe surrounded by a branch underlines a universal aspiration for peace. This strong symbol reflects the local commitment to war after the trauma of 1914-1918.

Ranked among the historical monuments of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, this monument illustrates a unique artistic and memorial approach in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. His iconography and pacifist message make it a rare testimony of the postwar period, distinct from traditional memorials glorifying military sacrifice. The region, marked by significant human losses, sees it as a symbol of resilience and hope for a conflict-free future.

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