A monumental sculpture by César
On the Corniche President John Fitzgerald Kennedy in Marseille, stands an imposing nine-meter high bronze ship’s propeller blade. This work, inaugurated in 1970, is signed by the Marseille sculptor César Baldaccini, known simply as César. It pays tribute to the returnees from Algeria in 1962.
Symbolism of the incomplete propeller
The propeller, nine meters high, symbolizes the crossing of the Mediterranean made by the Pieds-Noirs in 1962 to join Marseille. The fact that it consists of a single blade, whereas a propeller usually has several, represents the definitive break with their native land.
A place of memory and reflection
The monument is located near the Pullman Palm Beach hotel and the Prado beaches. It offers a stunning view of the southern harbor of Marseille. Commemorative plaques are affixed there, inscribed to honor the returnees and their contributions.
Practical information for visitors
The Memorial is freely and freely accessible. Its location on the Corniche Kennedy makes it an ideal stop during a walk, allowing visitors to reflect while enjoying the panorama of the Mediterranean.
By visiting this site, one grasps the magnitude of the history of the returnees from Algeria and the importance of their memory in the Marseille heritage.
