You’re now standing on Place du Petit-Thouars, a lively crossroads in the center of Saumur, easily recognized by its distinctive triangular shape. Lined with shops and cafés, it lies just beyond the old medieval walls. Yet behind its everyday bustle lies the memory of a local hero: Aristide Aubert du Petit-Thouars, a sailor from Saumur who became a national legend. Born in 1760 at the Château de Boumois near Saumur, he showed remarkable courage and a taste for adventure from a young age. As a naval officer during the French Revolution, he commanded the ship *Le Tonnant* in the famous Battle of Aboukir in 1798. Gravely wounded in combat against Admiral Nelson’s fleet, he continued to lead his crew even after losing his limbs. His final words, which became legendary, were said to be: “Crew of the Tonnant, never lower your flag!” He died at just thirty-seven, remembered as a symbol of unwavering bravery. In 1933, the city honored him with this statue, sculpted by Albert Jouanneault, a native of Saumur. Its creation had its own adventures—years of delays, funding problems, unpaid debts, and even a cheeky prank by cavalry students who, in 1919, placed a wooden horse on the empty pedestal to poke fun at the long wait. Behind the statue stands the imposing Volney Post Office, built in the early 1910s to replace the old Hôtel des Postes on Place de la Bilange. With its ornate Belle Époque facade and large arched windows, it was considered cutting-edge at the time, meeting the city’s growing postal, telegraph, and telephone needs. Expanded in 1927, it still serves today as Saumur’s main post office—a proud reminder of civic life and public service at the heart of the city.