description Butte de Chalmont Overview
Butte de Chalmont is a hill in the Aisne department of northern France that serves as the site of a memorial to the Second Battle of the Marne, a major First World War engagement fought in 1918. The memorial, inaugurated in 1932, features monumental bronze sculptures by Antoine Bourdelle, a French sculptor who studied under Auguste Rodin. The monument honors the Allied forces who participated in the battle, which marked a turning point on the Western Front by halting the last major German offensive of the war.
help Butte de Chalmont FAQ
What event does Butte de Chalmont commemorate?
The hill commemorates the Second Battle of the Marne, fought in 1918 during the First World War. It is near Oulchy-le-Château in France's Aisne department.
Who created the famous memorial at Butte de Chalmont?
The memorial group Les Fantômes was created by Paul Landowski, a French sculptor of Polish origin. Heritage records describe it as a granite work by Landowski rather than an Antoine Bourdelle bronze. [French heritage record](https://pop.culture.gouv.fr/notice/merimee/PA00115857)
When was the Butte de Chalmont memorial completed?
The memorial group Les Fantômes was inaugurated in 1935. France's heritage record says it was already protected as a historic monument in 1934, before the work was finished.
What does Les Fantômes show?
The monument contains eight large granite figures representing dead or missing soldiers from different branches of the French forces. A separate statue called La France stands at the entrance, facing the former battlefield.
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