"The Allobroges" Sculpture

The sculpture was unveiled on Sunday, August 23, 2026, during “Belle Dimanche,” the traditional alpine pasture festival.
Its creator, Robert Vernet, has already produced numerous works of art in wood, bronze, and steel, and was awarded the “Silver Medal” for his sculptural work by the Société Art Sciences et Lettres de Paris in October 2022.


Crafted from stainless steel, this work by Mr. Robert VERNET pays tribute to the Allobroges people, who, 2,300 years ago, inhabited a vast territory stretching from the Rhône to the Alps.:

The Allobroges have a very special resonance from the Rhône to the Alps, as the history of this entire part of France is at stake. The Allobroges were, in fact, a people who occupied this vast territory 2,300 years ago. Their history is unique and enigmatic.

For a long time, they retained the characteristics of Gallic culture – for it was indeed Gaul that existed at that time – but adopted, with surprising ease, the way of life of the Romans who conquered them in 120 BC.

In Hannibal’s time, the Allobroges were among the peoples of southern Gaul. Their presence in the region dates back to the 3rd century BC. Courageous in battle and distinguished in appearance – though their origins are poorly understood, with some suggesting they were Celts who had returned from the East – they occupied a territory stretching from the shores of Lake Geneva to the Rhône plain. This territory of that era corresponds today to the departments of Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Isère and the canton of Geneva.

The arrival of the Romans, who introduced a new way of life and new building practices, coincided with the aristocracy of the time, with their large estates and luxurious, refined dwellings. Religion also took a new step forward with the Greco-Roman worldview. The inhabitants were then introduced to a wide range of spectacles and games. In less than three generations – a period of less than a century – the Allobroges adopted the Roman way of life.

Nowadays, many residents of the Dauphiné, Savoie and the Canton of Geneva identify with the mountain people’s spirit of independence and freedom. They see themselves reflected in the behaviour of the Allobroges and their way of resisting. The song ‘Les Allobroges’ is very often sung at events and commemorations, demonstrating how history lives on in everyone’s memory. This song was composed in 1856 by Joseph Dessaix, a resident of Allinges on the outskirts of Thonon-les-Bains, here in Haute-Savoie.

The sculpture ‘Les Allobroges’, consisting of two characters and a baby (Amadine, Victker and Victker’s daughter), and a cow, is perfectly situated at Plaine Dranse, in the heart of the mountain pastures where herds graze in summer – a popular spot for walking and mountain biking – and, in winter, a major gathering place for skiers and snowshoers in the Abondance Valley, within the Portes du Soleil.

Tradition is very much alive here, both in terms of history and agriculture – an activity passed down from generation to generation… with the ‘Belle Dimanche’ festival itself stemming from the tradition of blessing the herds.

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