Monument to the Dead - Grasse

The Monument aux Morts in Grasse – also known as the First World War Memorial – stands prominently on the Place du Petit-Puy and dates from 1928.

It is a square portico , inspired by a small temple, with four stone columns supporting a gable roof. It is decorated with Art Deco sculpted scenes of war, alternating with scenes from the lives of soldiers in the trenches. The sculptures include scenes of soldiers in the trenches, grieving women, and a mother with a child , symbolizing the sacrifices of the civilian population. These decorations are visible on all sides of the capitals and arches at the top.

The names of Grasse soldiers who died during World War I are carved in stone. Grasse lost more than 400 men in the war. The losses weighed heavily on the town, especially considering the population in 1911 was only about 12,000 — that means almost every family lost someone .

Later additions were made for victims of World War II , the Indochina War and the Algerian War .

Below lies an underground crypt containing an altar where the names of fallen soldiers are carved in stone on the crypt walls and on the altar. Several family members (named "Gras" and variants) from Grasse died in troops such as the 74th, 76th, 102nd, 127th and 147th Infantry Regiments, on fronts such as Verdun , in the trenches of northern France, or even at sea. Some mentions, such as "at sea" or "Paris", illustrate that not all casualties occurred at the front – there were also causes of death such as wounds behind the lines or disease.

This space is rarely open to the public, but is visited annually during commemorations (especially on November 11 – Armistice Day).

Willem Vandenameele