The Girondins monument

You now stand if front of one of Bordeaux’s most important monuments. It is the emblem of the city, with the Angel of Liberty breaking its chains at the top. This imposing structure is a tribute to the Girondin revolutionaries executed during the Terror. If the French Revolution is somewhat abstract in your memory, you should know that the Girondins were republican politicians, mainly elected in the Gironde department, who sat in the Legislative Assembly during the Revolution. They supported political and economic freedom and were in favour of war against the enemies of the Revolution. However, following disagreements with the more radical Montagnard branch, the Girondins found themselves before the Revolutionary Court, the same court that eventually sentenced Marie Antoinette. They were accused, among other things, of not having voted for the execution of King Louis XVI. On June 2nd 1793, it was the turn of the 31 members of the Girondin party to appear before the judge, without lawyers or witnesses. As you could imagine, they didn’t stand a chance and all of them were beheaded. This was the beginning of the great terror. Initially this column in their honour was to be erected in Gambetta Square, where many of them were executed. However, it was decided to merge this commemorative programme with another project of the time, that of the Quincunx fountain. Please take your time to admire the work, which was completed in 1901. Two fountains literally embrace the Girondins’ column. The sculptural structure is impressive and full of symbolism!  The theatre-oriented scene in front of you represents the triumph of the Republic. You can also see two groups of children, representing compulsory education on one side and military service on the other. The three men being crushed by the Republic represent Lies, Ignorance and Vice. Now start walking around the monument to the right. In the centre you will see the Gallic Cockerel, accompanied by two other women symbolising Eloquence and History.  If you go all the way round to the other side, you’ll find an allegory of the city of Bordeaux carrying a cornucopia, sitting on representations of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. And finally, the second fountain, on the garden side, depicts Concord, carrying an olive branch. The Concord symbolises peace, union and joy, and as you can see, the statues are happy and peaceful. However, there was a time when the Girondins fountain was almost completely forgotten. During World War II, statues were requisitioned by the German army to be melted down to make cannons. As with many other statues the Girondins were taken down only to be found again in Angers in 1944. Sent back to Bordeaux, they were kept and virtually forgotten. It wasn’t until 1983 that the fountain was reassembled and could be admired in its entirety. I’ll let you enjoy the site and pay your respects to the Girondin revolutionaries.