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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The monument to the dead of Jougne, located in Place du Mont-d'Or, was designed by local architect Paul Robbe in 1924. It commemorates the 50 soldiers of the commune who died during the First World War, plus two names from the Second World War. The selected project (project B) was preferred to a version deemed too sober (project A), whose plaster models are now on display at the municipal museum. The sculptures, made of Carrara marble, include an allegory of France (Marianne with Phrygian cap), a hairy at rest, a shell surrounded by laurels, and a schoolboy reading the names of the disappeared. A bronze bas-relief, signed by Albert David, represents a realistic attack scene.

The construction was entrusted to local and regional artisans: Joseph Le Morvan (sculptor and contractor, based in Haute-Saône) realized part of the elements for 56,500 francs, while Joseph Saintot de Pontarlier occupied reinforced concrete foundations (5,980 francs). The schoolboy's statue, damaged in 1925, was restored by Georges Laëthier de Besançon, who changed his posture (cartable under the arm instead of the shoulder strap). The monument, listed as a historical monument in 2004, is based on a platform decorated with cannons pointing towards the Swiss border, reflecting the geopolitical context of the time.

Symbolically, the monument combines several figures: the Republic (Marianne), the army (the hairy), the youth (schoolboy) and the memory of battles (names engraved on books: Marne, Verdun, Somme...). The noble materials (granit, marble, bronze) and art nouveau designs of the guard-corp underline its commemorative importance. The two original models, preserved at the Musée de Jougne, bear witness to Robbe's creative process, while the archives mention public contracts awarded in 1923-1924 for its realization.

The inscription for historical monuments in 2004 protects the entire monument, including its back yard and the elements buried under the roadway, following the elevation of the square in 1925. This change removed the original borders, visible on old postcards. Today, the monument remains a central gathering place in Jougne, illustrating the 1920s memorial art and tribute to the Doubs soldiers.

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