Monument Jules Bara - Tournai

The monument to Jules Bara (1835-1900) was made by the sculptor Guillaume Charlier and the founder Verbeyst according to plans by architect Victor Horta. The statues are made of bronze, except for the representation of Justice, which is made of granite.

The Bara Monument consists of four parts ; on either side of the central statue on which Jules Bara stands, his left arm bent and pointed slightly forward, on the left are a man and his son reading, and on the right a woman writing or drawing Bara's portrait.

At the rear, on a very high plinth surrounded by four columns, Justice crowns the entire monument located on a wide square overlooking the station.

Bara was a Liberal MP for 32 years continuously. This lawyer was also Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs in the cabinet of Charles Rogier.

The whole was inaugurated with great fanfare on September 20, 1903, thus joining the tradition of celebrating the September Days of 1830, maintained in Wallonia. A large crowd had the opportunity to attend Paul Hymans' speech and the parade of several hundred gymnasts and to take part in a concert or admire the illuminated statue in the evening. The city of Tournai performed a true glorification of the figure of Jules Bara, just three years after his death.

Willem Vandenameele