Calvaire d'Illy

The site, with its splendid panorama overlooking the village of Illy, has certainly been frequented for centuries by the local villagers as a place where the spirit blows. The Calvary of Illy could not fail to attract the attention of General Margueritte in the early afternoon of September 1, 1870, as he assembled his division in preparation for a charge of several thousand cavalry in the hope of upsetting the German infantrymen climbing the slopes of the Terme plateau. At around 2.30pm, he moved his troops forward to within 400 meters of the enemy, going out three times to reconnoiter his positions himself. Just as the charge began, he was mortally wounded near the Auberge de Terme. General de Galliffet immediately took over from him, leading this heroic charge with great enthusiasm, as all the cavalrymen wanted to avenge their leader, and in particular those of the 1st regiment of African chasseurs, which he had previously commanded. It was the last great charge of the French cavalry, whose memory is preserved by the Braves Gens memorial.