Lost in thought, visitors often pause before this solemn place. It is the Monument aux morts de l’île du Souvenir. This war memorial stands dedicated to the victims of World War I. It resides on Île du Souvenir in Lyon’s Parc de la Tête d’Or.
The city sought a new war memorial in 1920. Architect Tony Garnier’s design “Athéna” initially won. However, its cost proved too high. The “Philae” project, a collaboration with Jean-Baptiste Larrivé, was then chosen.
Garnier collaborated with sculptors. Jean-Baptiste Larrivé created the cenotaph. Louis Bertola and Claude Grange crafted the bas-reliefs. The island itself was created and landscaped between 1924 and 1930.
The Monument aux morts de l’île du Souvenir draws inspiration from Arnold Böcklin’s painting Isle of the Dead. At its heart, a cenotaph represents six figures. They bear a tombstone shrouded in cloth. This is a tribute to the 10,600 Lyonnais who perished for France in World War I. After Jean-Baptiste Larrivé’s death, his brother Auguste Larrivé completed the work.
Louis Bertola created two bas-reliefs: Le Départ and La Guerre. Claude Grange created La Paix and La Victoire. The monument’s stones came from Cruchaud and Goulot quarries.
The Monument aux morts de l’île du Souvenir has been listed as a historical monument since 1982. In 2003, it gained the “Heritage of the 20th Century” label. A plaque nearby commemorates this honor since 2004.
In 2013, the monument underwent renovation. Cleaning revealed the 10,600 names inscribed on the cenotaph. The island reopened to the public in early 2017.
The Monument aux morts de l’île du Souvenir underwent several redesigns. An initial group of six columns, each with a statue, was replaced by two fluted shafts. Similarly, a perimeter wall with a frieze and stairs were planned but not built.
Take a moment to appreciate the artistry and symbolism. The Monument aux morts de l’île du Souvenir serves as a reminder of sacrifice. It also stands as a testament to the enduring power of remembrance.