Malpasset Memorial: a tribute filled with contemplation and history

In Fréjus, in a setting of silence and memory, lies the Malpasset Memorial.

This poignant place pays tribute to the 423 victims of the Malpasset dam rupture in 1959.

This event, engraved in the collective memory of the region, was one of the most devastating in the history of the Var.

More than just a tribute, this memorial offers a space for reflection and remembrance, combining pain and awareness for the future.

The Malpasset tragedy: a flood that devastated Provence

On December 2, 1959, the raging waters of the Argens, released by the rupture of the Malpasset dam, devastated everything in their path. 

This dam, built to meet the region's water needs, succumbed to incessant rains, releasing a wave of incredible power. 

In a matter of hours, villages, homes and lives were swept away, leaving a landscape of desolation and a deep wound in the hearts of the inhabitants. 

This tragedy, beyond the figures, is a human tragedy that will forever mark the history of Fréjus and its surroundings.

L'impact and legacy'

a call for vigilance

Beyond the tribute, this place also evokes the lessons to be learned from this disaster. 

It reminds us that natural risk management is essential, to protect not only landscapes, but above all human lives. 

Malpasset is a collective memory which, through this memorial, transmits a strong message: that of resilience and responsibility in the face of the elements.

Malpasset Memorial Frejus
Black Army Memorial Frejus

The impact of the Malpasset disaster: a collective memory

The flooding caused by the dam rupture had a profound impact on the region, both in human and infrastructural terms. Hundreds of homes were destroyed, entire families wiped out, and communities devastated. The Malpasset Memorial, in addition to paying tribute to the victims, also recalls the importance of natural risk management and collective memory.

The Malpasset Memorial is a key place to understand the events of December 2, 1959. It allows us to honor the victims and reflect on the management of natural risks. This moving site is a testimony to the collective memory to discover during your stay in Fréjus or in the region.

This place, generously offered by the people of Fréjus to all those who wish to pay their respects there, also calls for respect: that of the memory of the deceased, but also that of the rules and places. A delicacy which, throughout the ages, guarantees the preservation of this precious tribute.

Visiting the Malpasset Memorial is much more than discovering a page of history. It is feeling, honoring and understanding, so that oblivion never sets in and memory remains alive, in Fréjus as elsewhere.

The Malpasset Memorial is located in the city center of Fréjus, behind the Roman amphitheater, easily accessible for a visit full of emotion and respect. The site is open all year round and admission is free, offering everyone the opportunity to come and pay their respects or learn about this historical event.

The site is open all year round, and admission is free.

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