Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille Monument, Carcassonne

In 1849 the French government decreed the fortifications of Carcassonne must be demolished. They were crumbling and unsightly and hell to dust. Even Napoleon had Carcassonne struck off the list of official fortifications.

But the government picked the wrong town to start a fight. They picked wrong town and the wrong mayor. Jean-Pierre Cros-Mayrevieille was an official inspector of historical monuments, he was deeply passionate about his city. The government had its decree but Jean-Pierre he had the city behind him and he had influential friends.

Prosper Merimee, a prominent writer and fellow inspector of historical monuments, was equally passionate about preservation. Merrimee had been involved in several controversial restoration efforts including Paris' Notre-Dame Cathedral. Together they would hold the fort. They succeeded. The government reversed itself.

Gothic revivalist architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc was in town, working at restoring the basilica of Saint-Nazaire. He undertook the needed restorations.

A memorial to Jean-Pierre was dedicated in 1911. It is an imposing bronze bust of him atop a bronze column. The base of the column is an accurate sculpture of the walls and fortifications of Carcassonne. The memorial was erected by "ses concitoyens et ses amis" ("his fellow citizens and friends").