- 10 Place Bellecour, 69002 Lyon
- What you see
- What you need to know
At the heart of this iconic square stands a monumental work entitled “Stone Watchman”, created by the sculptor Georges Salendre and inaugurated in 1948.
This imposing sculpture holds profound significance, commemorating a tragic event that occurred on July 27, 1944. Five men were executed in reprisal for an attack carried out a few hours earlier by the Resistance against the café-restaurant of Windmill, frequented by the occupying forces.
It is essential to emphasize that the five men shot They were being held at Montluc prison at the time of the attack, and therefore could not be held responsible for the act. Yet, they were chosen “as an example”:
- René Bernard, 40-year-old communist activist;
- Albert Chambonnet, regional head of the Secret Army, aged 41; ;
- Francis Chirat, 27-year-old Catholic activist;
- Gilbert Dru, also a 24-year-old Catholic activist;
- Léon Pfeffer, member of the Francs-tireurs and supporters of the Immigrant Labor, aged 21.
The sculpture “Stone Watchman” now stands on the very site of the execution, becoming the epicenter of remembrance commemorations in Lyon. This symbolic work bears witness to the sacrifice of these unjustly condemned men and reminds present and future generations of the importance of preserving collective memory and paying tribute to those who fought for freedom and justice. By exploring this emotionally charged place, we commit ourselves to perpetuating the duty of remembrance and honoring the courage of those who sacrificed their lives for an ideal of liberty.
- Archive images
- About the statue
It is a statue of a 4-meter-tall nude man whose arms rest on a shield adorned with the Cross of Lorraine. The Cross of Lorraine is associated with General de Gaulle and the French Resistance during World War II. Salendre drew inspiration from the statue of Saint George of Donatello exhibited in Florence to make his own.
