Statues

Adam de Craponne statue

Place de l’hôtel de ville

It pays tribute to Adam de Craponne (1526-1576); the engineer and designer of the canal that bears his name and irrigates the area. In recognition of his work, the 22 towns and villages engraved on the monument helped fund the statue.

War Memorial

Place Gambetta

When Gambetta died in 1882, Salon Council decided to change the square’s name to pay tribute to the man who protected France during the Franco-Prussian War.

Place de la Croix was renamed Place Gambetta in 1883. The council decided to build a landmark fountain in the middle (on Place de la Croix which was moved a few metres). The Franco-Prussian veteran society donated a commemorative monument to the town. It was built by Gautier, an architect in Paris, and the statue maker Paul Moreau Vauthier. The bronze monument was unveiled on June 28th 1903 by Camille Pelletan, the Navy Minister.

Antoine-Blaise Crousillat bust (1814 – 1899)

Place Crousillat

The thoughtful poet loved his town so much that he didn’t leave. Antoine.Blaise Crousillat is one of the biggest names in 19th century Provençal literature.

The modest and unassuming poet was on the sidelines of the Félibréen movement and settled for celebrating his land… His bronze bust is by Farigoule and was placed here in 1914. Its pedestal has the town’s coat of arms, acanthus, embossed leather, olive branches and two excerpts from his La Bresco and L’Eissame texts.

“Le sublime réveil” by Eugène Piron

Saint Roch cemetery memorial

Salon Council began raising funds to build a memorial on August 9th 1919. The chosen site was Saint Roch cemetery’s cliff. A tender was held in 1923 and the project by the sculptor Eugène Piron won the vote. The monument is carved entirely into the rock and depicts a hole that seems to go down to the vault where the dead are laid to rest.

Marianne Bust

Place de la révolution

The anti-clerical population at the time said that “Saint Michel (the church on the edge of the square) has turned its back on the French Republic so as not to see the bust of Marianne.” The district’s water supply came from Les Aubes resort and spurted out of four small lions’ mouths from the 19th century.

Modern statue of Nostradamus

Place des Anciennes Halles :

This bronze statue depicts Nostradamus holding different symbols and was made by François Bouché. It was built in 1966 on the Carrefour de l’Arceau crossroads (Allées de Craponne). It was knocked over by a lorry in 1969; the council ordered another (now on Avenue Guynemer) but the original was restored in 1999 and moved closer to the famous figure’s home.