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Origin and history

The Monument to the Dead in Bayard, Matabiau, Concorde and Chalets is a tribute to the Toulouse soldiers who fell during the 20th century conflicts, including World War I. Built in 1923 on Place Roquelaine, it is distinguished by an allegorical composition: a bronze statue depicting France, capped by the Phrygian bonnet, brandishing a sword and a shield, under which a figure symbolizing Civilization was huddled. The names of the missing are engraved on the stone pedestal. This monument is part of a series of local tributes in Toulouse, reflecting the commitment of neighbourhoods to collective memory.

The construction of the monument is entrusted to the sculptor Léo Laporte-Blairsy, while the cast iron is provided by the Susse foundry. Inaugurated on November 4, 1923, it is one of 42 monuments to the dead of Occitanie protected as historical monuments since October 18, 2018, in recognition of its artistic and historical value. Its inscription underlines the importance of neighbourhood memorials in the Toulouse urban landscape, often less well known than major municipal monuments.

The choice of Place Roquelaine, in the heart of the Matabiau district, is not insignificant: this place centralizes the memory of the four districts concerned (Bayard, Matabiau, Concorde, Chalets). The monument thus embodies a double dimension, both local (by its territorial anchor) and universal (via its allegories of France and Civilization). The materials used — bronze for statues, stone for the base — and the sober yet symbolic style reflect the artistic cannons of monuments to the dead of the inter-war period.

The initiative of its construction dates back to early 1921, in a context of national reconstruction and collective mourning. Like many memorials of the time, it aims to perpetuate the memory of the sacrifices made, while affirming values of resistance and protection (illustrated by the sword and shield). Its recent listing among historical monuments (2018) reflects a renewed interest in these works, often perceived as identity markers of the territories.

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