Inscribed on dark blue steel plates are names. These are the names of 94415 Parisians. They died during the First World War. This is the Monument aux morts. It stands as a solemn tribute to their sacrifice.
The Monument aux morts is not a typical monolith. It stretches horizontally. It spans 280 meters along the exterior wall. This wall belongs to the Père Lachaise cemetery. Its unconventional design breaks from tradition.
Imagine walking along the Boulevard de Ménilmontant. You are tracing the names of the fallen. Each name etched carefully onto the steel. The dark blue evokes the color of gun barrels. It mirrors the somber mood.
The Monument aux morts was inaugurated on November 11, 2018. This marked the centennial of the Armistice. Before this, Paris lacked a central monument. It could have honored all its World War I dead.
Professor Jean-Louis Robert led the effort. He worked with a team from the University Paris-I Panthéon-Sorbonne. They spent six years collecting and verifying names. They cross-referenced records. The goal was to ensure accuracy and avoid duplicates.
The Monument aux morts virtually exists online since 2016. There, each Parisian soldier’s mention contains more data. Death certificates and other historic details are included.
The location of the Monument aux morts is significant. It stands on the cemetery wall. This placement symbolizes the boundary. It is between the world of the living and the world of the dead.
The designers created a thoughtful landscape around the monument. A special pavement and greenery line the wall’s base. This invites visitors. They are able to approach and touch the monument. The monument offers a space for quiet reflection.
Julien Zanassi explains the design choice. He is from the architecture firm Phileas. The monument is intentionally airy. This avoids a heavy, flat appearance.
The Monument aux morts even corrects for the wall’s deformations. If straightened, it would stand taller than the Montparnasse Tower. That’s how long it is.
The Monument aux morts received the “Geste d’Or” prize in 2018. This award recognizes projects. They enhance heritage. The monument honors the memory of those who died. Paris remembers its children.