Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The monument to the dead of Bourg-en-Bresse, located in the department of Ain, is an emblematic memorial of the first half of the twentieth century. Since 13 March 2019, he has been a member of historic monuments, distinguished by his form of triumphal arch, adorned with a sculpted group symbolizing the victorious France taking the veil of history. This monument, inaugurated in 1925, is the work of sculptor Alphonse Muscat and architect Auguste Royer, two major figures of local commemorations.

The central sculpted group represents an allegory of France, winged and naked, surrounded by faces facing history, including that of a Gaulish warrior. A hairy helmet, integrated into the base, evokes First World War soldiers. The monument integrates into the garden of the Quinconces, creating a space of collection distinct from the festive atmosphere of the park (music kiosk). Two lateral steles bear the names of the deceased, without affecting the readability of the whole.

Muscat's work, prolific in the Ain, is characterized by a narrow time range (5 years) and a bold artistic approach, as evidenced by the nudity of the allegorical figure, rare for a monument to the dead. Its installation required the displacement of the statue of Edgar Quinet, carved by Aimé Millet, emphasizing its urban importance. The monument, owned by the municipality, is protected in its entirety (arch, sculptures, steles and masonry elements).

Located at the tip of the Quinconce Garden, on Alphonse Muscat Avenue (formerly Place des Quinconce), it offers a landscape perspective while marking a symbolic break with the surrounding public space. The available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum, Mérimée base) confirm its status as a historical monument and its anchoring in the French memorial heritage.

The sculptor Alphonse Muscat, author of about twenty monuments in the Ain, unfolds a style both classical (arch of triumph) and innovative (allegorical treatment). The architect Auguste Royer works here on a balanced composition, where art and collective memory respond. The inauguration in 1925 is part of the post-war commemorations, where each city seeks to honour its dead while affirming its resilience.

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