Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Memorial to the Dead of Salon-de-Provence is a tribute to the victims of the First World War, built in Saint-Roch Cemetery. Its originality lies in its integration into an existing cliff, where a pre-existing funeral vault, commanded by banker Marius Conte-Devolx, has determined its location. The competition for his creation was launched in 1923 by the latter, and the sculptor Eugène Piron was selected in 1924. The monument was inaugurated on November 11, 1925, marking the local collective memory.

The monument is distinguished by its evocative sculptural composition: a trapezoidal breach carved into the rock, in the centre of which a parlour, representing a Poilu with its military attributes, dominates the scene. With two groups of soldiers emerging from the rock as spirits, he symbolizes sacrifice and resurrection. Below, scattered blocks bear the names of the disappeared, while a dedication "To our dead, 1914-1918" is engraved at the top of the cliff. Access is through a cypress-lined court, highlighting the solemn character of the place.

Prior to its construction, the cliff housed chapels and funeral monuments, replaced to integrate this memorial project. The site, classified as a historical monument in 2011, illustrates a unique artistic and topographical approach, where nature and sculpture unite to honour the deceased. The property belongs to the municipality of Salon-de-Provence, and its conservation status has been monitored since its classification.

The choice of Marius Conte-Devolx, influential banker of Crédit Commercial de France, reflects a personal and local commitment to the commemoration. Eugène Piron, a selected sculptor, was able to translate in the stone the emotion and the duty of memory, creating a work both monumental and intimate. The inauguration in 1925, symbolic date of the Armistice, strengthens its anchor in collective history.

Today, the monument remains a place of recollection and a post-war artistic testimony. Its location in the Saint-Roch Cemetery, accessible via the Freedom Hall, makes it a central point of the memory of Salonese. The protected elements include the entire monument, highlighting its historic and historic importance for the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

External links