Monument aux morts de la guerre de 1914-1918
MonumentHidden Treasure
Monument aux morts de la guerre de 1914-1918, located in Cabannes (Bouches-du-Rhône), is a modern edifice built in the 19th-20th centuries. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Modern (19th-20th century)
- Location
- Cabannes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 43.8610, 4.9495
- Mérimée Reference
- PA13000060
Created by the sculptor François Carli, this proud and defiant soldier, unveiled in 1921, pays tribute to the 78 soldiers from Cabannes who fell for France — and restores the honour of the 15th Corps, which had been unjustly blamed.
History
In the heart of the village of Cabannes, in the Bouches-du-Rhône region, stands one of the most unusual memorials in Provence. Far from the anonymity of so many mass-produced memorials after the Great War, this one bears the signature of an artist: François Carli, a Provençal sculptor whose talent can be seen in every detail of the composition. A poilu perched on his pedestal, his body tense in a posture of quiet defiance, his gaze fixed on a horizon that we can only guess is distant - the stone here speaks with a rare eloquence. What makes this monument truly unique is the symbolic and historical charge it carries beyond simple collective mourning. Among the 78 names engraved in the stone are those of the soldiers who fell in 1914 from the 15th Corps, the great Provençal unit that was publicly blamed by Marshal Joffre for the tragic retreats at the start of the war. For a long time, this unjust stigma remained a living wound in the memory of the people of southern France. The Cabannes monument thus becomes, in a way, an act of rehabilitation: honouring these men means challenging the black legend. The visit can be enjoyed in calm and contemplation. The beautifully crafted sculpture invites you to come closer to capture the details of the soldier's face and equipment, with the accompanying rock like a fragment of conquered or defended ground. The pedestal is sober and solid, anchoring the piece in the French tradition of remembrance and giving it a special dignity. The village setting of Cabannes, an agricultural commune on the Crau plain north of the Alpilles, adds to the emotion: here, each name inscribed represented a family known to all, a neighbour, a son. Registration as a Historic Monument in 2010 officially recognises the heritage and artistic value of this work, which is now protected for future generations.
Architecture
The monument consists of a sculpture in the round depicting a First World War soldier - the famous "poilu" - in a dynamic standing position, flanked by a rock that gives the composition a quasi-naturalistic dimension. The posture is deliberately defiant: the body leaning slightly forward, the gaze straight, the gesture firm. François Carli's work here is in the tradition of French realist sculpture from the Belle Époque and post-war period, focusing on anatomical accuracy and the truth of military equipment - capote, Adrian helmet, field kit - to anchor the figure in historical reality. The ensemble rests on a sober, rectilinear pedestal of cut stone, typical of French war memorials from the first quarter of the 20th century. This pedestal houses the commemorative plaques on which are engraved the 78 names of the soldiers from Cabannes who died for France. The local stone, in the warm colours typical of Provence, blends harmoniously with the surrounding village landscape. Although modest in scale for a rural village, the quality of the workmanship of the main figure is impressive, revealing an undeniable mastery of modelling and rendering of materials.
Related Figures
François Carli — sculpteur provençal, auteur de la statue du poiluMaréchal Joseph Joffre — commandant en chef français qui blâma injustement le 15e Corps en 1914Les 78 soldats de Cabannes morts pour la France, dont les noms sont gravés sur le monumentLes soldats du 15e Corps d'armée — unité méridionale stigmatisée puis réhabilitée par l'histoire
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Monument aux morts de la guerre de 1914-1918 located?
Monument aux morts de la guerre de 1914-1918 is located in Cabannes, Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.
When was Monument aux morts de la guerre de 1914-1918 built?
Monument aux morts de la guerre de 1914-1918 dates back to a period built in the modern era (19th-20th century).
Is Monument aux morts de la guerre de 1914-1918 open to visitors?
Monument aux morts de la guerre de 1914-1918 is currently closed to visitors.