Jean de Riquer

Artist Jean de Riquer was born in Oloron-Sainte-Marie in 1912 and died there on April 15, 1993, the son of Alexandre de Riquer, 7th Earl of Casa Davalos, known for his "art nouveau" works and leader of Catalan modernism.

Jean de Riquer was mobilized in September 1939 and became a sergeant in a battalion of Chasseurs of the Pyrenees. He fought from June 5 to 24, 1940, and received the Croix de Guerre. Demobilized, he resumed his duties at the town hall of Oloron and becomes a member of the Resistance.

He creates a group to help fugitives providing identity cards, food, a passage to Spain through the valleys of Roncal and Isaba. His group is active from mid-1942 to March 1943, when the group, but not Jean, is arrested by the Germans.

Dachau, by Jean de Riquer

In 1944 he becomes chief of the Oloron company of the ORA, but is also arrested by the Gestapo in Pau. First he spent time in Fort Hâ in Bordeaux, later on he is deported and to Dachau and released on April 30, 1945 by US troops.

After the end of the war, he resumed his duties at the town hall of Oloron-Sainte-Marie, continues his artistic activities and exploring.

In 1950, he participated in an expedition of Paul-Emile Victor in Greenland and In 1952 he ascended Mount Ararat in search of Noah's ark.