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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The monument to the dead of Cannes, dedicated to World War I fighters, was carved by Albert Chort and inaugurated on November 11, 1927. It is distinguished by its emblematic location on the promenade of the Pantiero, opposite the town hall, in the Downtown - Croisette district. This monument, which has been listed as a historical monument since 22 February 2010, consists of an octagonal stone pedestal topped by a bronze group representing four soldiers (one aviator, two infantrymen and a sailor) wearing a winged Victoire, symbol of peace and military glory.

The pedestal bears eight bronze plates engraved with the names of the soldiers who died for France, while the great battles of the war are also mentioned. This original approach, combining allegory and individual memory, reflects a common artistic tendency in public monuments of the inter-war period. The Victoire, holding a laurel crown and an olive branch, embodies both sacrifice and hope for peace, the central themes of post-war commemorations.

Albert Chort, a renowned sculptor, conceived this monument as a collective tribute, incorporating strong symbolic elements while honouring each named soldier. His work is part of a broader national commemoration movement, where the cities of France erected similar monuments to perpetuate the memory of the disappeared. In Cannes, this monument becomes a place of recollection and memory, anchored in the city's urban and maritime landscape.

Registration for historic monuments in 2010 underscores its heritage value, both artistic and historical. The monument also illustrates the evolution of commemorative practices, from simple steles to complex sculptural compositions, reflecting the importance attached to the memory of the Great War in public space. Today, there remains a strong symbol of local and national identity, frequented during the 11 November ceremonies.

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