The Souvenir Français monument
This monument was erected in 1874 on the private initiative of two Frenchmen – architect Oscar Bélanger and glovemaker Gabriel Mayer – in memory of eight French soldiers who died in Luxembourg hospitals between December 1870 and January 1871. Paid for through subscriptions, the Souvenir Français monument was erected as a symbol of the bonds of friendship between the peoples of Luxembourg and France. The project itself was initiated by military chaplain Jules-Joseph and Xavier Niessen in 1872, and the association that was formed as part of the project was recognised by France as a public-interest organisation in 1906. The association Souvenir Français preserves the memory of those who gave their lives for France. Souvenir Français instigated the erection of several monuments in France and abroad. It was felt that, in the Alsace and Lorraine regions, and indeed in France as a whole, it was important to immortalise the fact that these provinces were French. The monument was meant to remind the people of Luxembourg of the need to safeguard their own independence. The City granted the association a free and renewable concession.
This type of funerary monument, erected in memory of ordinary soldiers, was practically unheard of at the time, as soldiers were generally buried in mass graves. The monument was built from Audun stone and is one of the first of its kind outside France.
The obelisk is crowned with an anthemion and bears 12 plaques at its base, eight of which are inscribed with the soldiers' names and their dates of birth and death. Above each inscription is a star. The association Le souvenir français's insignia is framed by two laurel branches. On the front of the monument is a shield featuring a palm of victory, while the sides of obelisk are decorated with commemorative wreaths, carved in stone. The anthemion features a floral motif and, on each side, in the centre, is a cross carved in stone. The anthemion itself rests on an imposing cornice featuring Ionic-style volutes. Garlands featuring interlinking ribbons complete the decor. The base of the obelisk stands on a tympanum decorated with small acroteria. The funerary space is enclosed by iron chains hanging from angular balusters. Incorporated into the chains are cannonballs retrieved from battlefields.
