Roger Bernard in Saint-Martin-de-Castillon, Vaucluse (84)

On the D33 heading north towards Viens, about one hundred metres after its junction with the D900, several hundreds metres from Céreste in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence but in fact only a few yards inside Vaucluse, is a monument to the poet Roger Bernard, who was killed here by the Gestapo on 22 June 1944 at the age of twenty-three. Included in the memorial are a few words from Anna Marly's 'Le Chant des partisants'.

René Char, Céreste, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (04)

"DANS CETTE MAISON A VÉCU

LE POÈTE RENÉ CHAR,

ALIAS CAPITAINE ALEXANDRE,

CHEF DÉPARTEMENTAL DE LA S.A.P

 DANS LA RÉSISTANCE.

SES COMPAGNONS ET LUI MENÈRENT

DE CÉRESTE,

ET DANS LES ALPES DE HAUTE PROVENCE,

LE COMBAT POUR LA LIBERTÉ

CONTRE L'OPPRESSION FASCISTE ET NAZIE"

1940 - 1944'"

SAP stands for 'Section des atterrissage et des parachutages', an internal resistance movement during World War II, of which, as the plaque says, 'Capitaine Alexandre' (the poet René Char), was the leader from this house in Céreste. Rue René Char is quite apart from this house, on the other side of the village.

My René Char posts:
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René Char in Céreste
René Char in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

René Char in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (84)

The family grave in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.

'RENÉ CHAR

1907 – 1988'

Like his father, the poet René Char was born in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Apart from his poetry, he is probably most remembered for his friendship with Albert Camus and his work for the Résistance. His many publications include Arsenal (1929), Le Marteau sans maître (1934), Feuillets d'Hypnos (1946), Fureur et mystère (1948), and La Parole en archipel (1962).

'SI NOUS HABITONS UN ÉCLAIR
IL EST LE CŒUR DE L'ÉTERNEL'

The couplet comes from Char's poem 'À la santé du serpent', from the book Le Poème pulvérisé.

My René Char posts:

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René Char in Céreste
René Char in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue