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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Pessac Monument to the Dead, dedicated to First World War soldiers, was created in 1922 by the sculptor Gaston Leroux-Veneuvot. Its late inauguration in 1927 resulted from a legal dispute between the artist and the city. The work consists of a central stele, a standing soldier looking after two wounded at his feet, and an allegory of France bearing the names of the disappeared. This monument, typical of post-war commemorations, reflects collective mourning and tribute to the sacrifices made.

In 1927, after five years of trial, the monument was finally unveiled to the public on the Charles de Gaulle esplanade. Two additional plaques will be added later to honour the victims of the Second World War (1939-1945). The artistic composition, both sober and symbolic, illustrates the pain of families and national recognition. Ranked in 2015, it remains a major memory site for the municipality of Pessac, a municipal property and fully protected, including its enclosure grid.

The choice of Gaston Leroux-Veneuvot, a renowned sculptor, underscores the importance attached to this commemorative project. The archives also mention photographer Marcel Delboy (1882–1941), whose photographs document the monument. The location, first indicated as "satisfactory" (note 6/10), places the work in the heart of the city, between the Place de la 5e République and the esplanade. His inscription in the Historic Monuments in 2015 devotes his heritage and artistic value, while anchoring his role in the transmission of local history.

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