Historical reenactment, parades, popular ball… celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Montpellier this weekend

Été 1944, sur la place de la Comédie à Montpellier. Archives Montpellier

On August 29, 1944, the troops of General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, commander of the 1st French Army, arrived in Montpellier, liberated from German occupation on August 23. This year, 2024, the people of Montpellier are invited to come together through commemorative and festive events.
 

Program for this Saturday, August 31

At 4 p.m., historical reenactment and parades, esplanade du Peyrou: 4 p.m., raising of the colors and review of the troops; 4:30 p.m., departure of the parades composed of the fanfare Le Réveil cournonterralais, reenactors from the association “Mémoires Languedoc 44” and military vehicles from World War II.

The parades will march along two routes starting from Peyrou which will meet at Place de la Comédie. Route 1st parade: Rue Foch, Rue de la Loge, Place de la Comédie. Route 2nd parade: Boulevard Ledru-Rollin, Boulevard du Jeu-de-Paume, Grand-Rue Jean-Moulin, Place de la Comédie. Reenactment organized in partnership with the association “Mémoires Languedoc 44” with 70 extras.

At 6 p.m., taken d’armes, Place de la Comédie: 6 p.m., ceremony of taking up arms in the presence of the Draguignan Infantry School; 7 p.m., return of the parades to Peyrou.

At 7:30 p.m., popular ball and musical evening, Esplanade du Peyrou: 7:30 p.m., Republican aperitif; 20 h 30 – 9:30 p.m., popular swing ball, to the rhythm of a big band, to dance to the hits of the era, with an introduction to swing dances; 9 p.m.  30 – 10 p.m., DJ set; 10 p.m. – 0 a.m., orchestra, dance and swing demonstrations; 0h – 1h, DJ set.

Program for this Sunday, September 1st

At 9 o'clock, historical reenactment and parades, esplanade du Peyrou: 9 o'clock , raising of the colours and review of the troops; 9:15 a.m., departure of the Peyrou parade towards the commemoration sites. Reenactment organized in partnership with the association “Mémoires Languedoc 44” with 70 extras.You can watch this reenactment on site until 3 p.m.

At 9:30 a.m., commemorations in the presence of the Departmental Military Delegation of Hérault (DMD34): 9:30 a.m., tribute to the Resistance fighters, square Bir Hakeim (at the intersection of avenue de Lodève and boulevard Benjamin Milhaud) ; 10 h , tribute to the victims of the Gestapo, Villa des Rosiers, 6 avenue de Castelnau ; 11 a.m., tribute to the victims of the Militia, Françoise-Combes school complex, 4 rue du 81e Régiment d’Infanterie.