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Napoleon's road - meadow of encounter
Description
Laffrey was the theatre the 7th march 1815 of the encounter between Napoleon, back from Elbe island, and the royal army. The site will be named later Meadow of the Encounter. An equestrian statue of the emperor, up to the lake, commemorate this event.
A stop to not miss on the Napoleon's road for its storic aspect but also for the panorama offered on Laffrey lake and mountains around.
A modest plake fixed on the cemetery wall of the city of Laffrey immortalize the Emperor's words.
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Updated by
Matheysine Tourisme - 09/12/2025
www.matheysine-tourisme.com/
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History, culture and heritage
Following his exile on the Island of Elba, Napoleon wanted to regain power. He decided to reach Paris from Grasse by crossing the Alps via Digne and Sisteron, thus avoiding the troops stationed in Marseille. At Laffrey, the 5th Line of Royalist troops had come to arrest him on the King's orders. But when the two armies came face to face, Lessart, who commanded Louis XVIII's troops, gave the order to fire on the newcomers. Napoleon dismounted, advanced towards them, his chest exposed, and said: Soldiers! I am your Emperor. Do you not recognize me? He took a few more steps and declared, "If there is one among you who wants to kill his general, here I am!" A huge cry rang out, "Long live the Emperor!" Napoleon had just won his most decisive victory at Laffrey. He then continued on his way to Grenoble via Vizille and Brié-et-Angonnes.
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