War Memorial

The war memorial of Bayonne

A solemn place of remembrance on the Bayonne audio-guided tour, the war memorial stands against the ramparts. It pays tribute to the people of Bayonne who died for France and was inaugurated in 1924 to honour the victims of the First World War.

The farmer and the soldier

In Bayonne, nearly eight hundred people lost their lives during this war. On the monument, a farmer wearing a Basque beret stands beside his ox; on the right, a French soldier stands guard. What links them is the earth, which the farmer ploughs and in which the trenches were dug. Between them is the list of victims, which lengthened over the following wars.

What to see

This commemorative wall is the work of the architects of the Molinie, Nicod and Pouthier firm. Observe with respect this place of remembrance, which unites the peasant world and the fighting world in memory of the people of Bayonne who fell for France.

Practical information

The war memorial stands against the old ramparts of Bayonne. Freely accessible, it can be seen at any time, with respect for this place of remembrance.

What does the Bayonne war memorial commemorate ?

The people of Bayonne who died for France, first the victims of the First World War.

What do the figures of the monument represent ?

A Basque farmer and a French soldier, linked by the ploughed earth and that of the trenches.