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Origin and history

The monument to the dead of Montpellier, located in the department of Hérault in the Occitanie region, is dedicated to the soldiers of the commune fallen during the conflicts of the twentieth century. It is distinguished by a Corinthian-style hemicycle architecture, with a pediment engraved with the main battles of the First World War. Under the monument, a walk-through houses the names of more than 2,200 missing Montpellieran soldiers, accessible by stairs.

The decision to build this monument was made on November 18, 1918, at the end of World War I, but its final location was chosen only on December 28, 1921. Inaugurated on May 6, 1923, it was designed by architect Jacques-Léon February for a total cost of 30,000 francs. Originally located in the centre of the esplanade, it was moved in 1993 to its southeast end when the Corum, the city's congress hall, was built.

The monument is listed as historical monuments on October 18, 2018, among 42 monuments to the dead of the Occitanie region protected for their architectural, artistic or historical value. Its registration covers the entire structure, including its approach. Owned by the commune, there remains a strong symbol of local collective memory, commemorating the sacrifices of the Montpelliorian soldiers.

The available sources, including Wikipedia and Monumentum, confirm its status as a historical monument and specify its exact address: esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle in Montpellier. The GPS coordinates and the Insee code of the municipality (34172) allow it to be accurately located in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region.

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