Banyuls-sur-Mer war memorial, War memorial in Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
The Banyuls-sur-Mer war memorial is a stone sculpture created by renowned artist Aristide Maillol, measuring 190 centimeters tall and 560 centimeters wide. The work combines high relief and bas-relief techniques to depict soldiers and the cost of war.
Aristide Maillol, born in Banyuls in 1861, made this memorial free of charge, the last of four he gave to his home department after Céret (1922), Elne (1921) and Port-Vendres (1923); it was erected in 1933. The stone original stood on the Illa Grossa promontory facing the sea until 1989, when it was moved to place Dina-Vierny to shield it from sea weather and replaced on site by a bronze copy.
The stone version stands on place Dina-Vierny, named after the model and gallery owner close to Maillol; the bronze copy remains on the Illa Grossa. The central nude warrior wears a helmet and holds a sword, flanked by women in traditional Catalan dress: a seated mourner consoled by an older woman, and three young women carrying laurel crowns. Plaques read "A NOS MORTS 1939-1945" with twelve names, plus three marked AFN.
The memorial sits in a public square and is easily accessible on foot from the town center. Visitors can view the sculpture from multiple angles at any time without special arrangements or facilities.
Maillol made four war memorials in his home department for free: Elne (1921), Céret (1922), Port-Vendres (1923) and Banyuls (1933). The Banyuls stone group stood on the Illa Grossa promontory until 1989, when it was moved to place Dina-Vierny and a bronze copy took its place by the sea.
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