Albi war memorial

“Simple yet grand”: no clearer instructions could have been given to the architect of the Albi war memorial, just to your right. And so it was. The monument stands out from afar with its classic Triumphal Arch design, which is said to have cost a hefty sum – nearly 280,000 French francs. But its impact goes beyond size. Take a closer look at its color and building material. No wonder brick takes center stage compared to stone! You are in Albi, after all, the so-called ‘Red City’, famous for its red-brick buildings, much like its neighbor Toulouse, the ‘Pink City’. Construction began in 1924, and the memorial was inaugurated four years later, in 1928. It commemorates the heroism and sacrifice of 642 locals who died fighting for France during the First and Second World Wars, the Indochina War (1946-1954), the Algerian War (1954-1962) and the Afghanistan War (2011-2014). The name of each fallen soldier is inscribed on a marble plaque inside the arch. You’ll also see four medallions with portraits of prominent figures from Albi and Tarn. There’s General Sibille, Colonel Teyssier, and General Séré de Rivière; the latter two were knights of the Legion of Honor. The fourth medallion features Jean Jaurès, a renowned French socialist leader from the Belle Époque, who’s been buried in the Panthéon in Paris since 1924. The Albi memorial is a real stunner. It’s a beautiful example of how art can keep memories alive.