For those unaware: The “Löwendenkmal” commemorates the deaths of the men serving in the Cent Suisse, the French Royal Families bodyguard, who fought back armed revolutionaries trying to storm the Tuileries Palace on 10 August 1792 in form of a dying lion.
It was unveiled on the anniversary of the attack in 1821. It measures 10×6 and has been a Site of National Heritage since 2006.
I am seeing a Pig with a Lion inside it
I don’t know how I feel about this memorial.
It is crafted very well, looks stunning and is situated in a beautiful location.
But that’s where the beauty stops, IMHO.
I mean the history behind it is rather cruel, how it commemorates the death of 760 swiss mercenaries, who died defending the empty palace of a despot. Is this really a part of swiss history we should be very proud of? It’s not that these men died in a valiant effort to protect their country, instead they protected a monarchy, something that historically most swiss people are very proud *not* to have. Shouldn’t we Swiss, citizens of the “oldest democracy in Europe” be more on the side of the French revolutionaries instead of monarchy?
I don’t want to spit on the death of those mercenaries, nor this post, but sometimes I see people glorifying this monument without critically assessing its history.
👀
Isn’t it beautiful !! I was amazed at how large it was and the detail on it
Took the picture in old town right?
Last time I was there I was hangovered and full of « all you can eat fondue » from the night before.
Great place !
Glad it’s dead
Pictures don’t really do this place justice. Because of the pond in front of it, there’s usually nothing in the picture that gives you a sense of scale.
Remember when I saw it in person the first time, that thing is _huge_. And carved out of a massive rock face, like a mini Mt. Rushmore. Amazing work by the sculptors.
I visited it many years ago with my father. I was very impressed. On the same day we went to see the Bourbaki Panorama as well.
As kid I was deeply impressed of the dedication and sense of duty of these man but this was 1977 when ideals were still worthwhile.
Same for the population who received the soldiers of the Bourbaki Army. To me as kid the people who abstained to help others were a desirable role model. Can’t say that this changed since but I know this is completely out of style.
Somebody told us that the artist who sculptured the Löwendenkmal committed suicide because he carved the lions paw with only four toes.
I don’t know if this is true but as my dad used to say: si non è vero e ben trovato. ( of it’s not true, it made up well).
The most beautiful monument I’ve ever seen, I bought a tiny replica of it at the shop next to it.
i read somewhere that the lion used as the model is still alive somewhere around titless
14 comments
For those unaware: The “Löwendenkmal” commemorates the deaths of the men serving in the Cent Suisse, the French Royal Families bodyguard, who fought back armed revolutionaries trying to storm the Tuileries Palace on 10 August 1792 in form of a dying lion.
It was unveiled on the anniversary of the attack in 1821. It measures 10×6 and has been a Site of National Heritage since 2006.
I am seeing a Pig with a Lion inside it
I don’t know how I feel about this memorial.
It is crafted very well, looks stunning and is situated in a beautiful location.
But that’s where the beauty stops, IMHO.
I mean the history behind it is rather cruel, how it commemorates the death of 760 swiss mercenaries, who died defending the empty palace of a despot. Is this really a part of swiss history we should be very proud of? It’s not that these men died in a valiant effort to protect their country, instead they protected a monarchy, something that historically most swiss people are very proud *not* to have. Shouldn’t we Swiss, citizens of the “oldest democracy in Europe” be more on the side of the French revolutionaries instead of monarchy?
I don’t want to spit on the death of those mercenaries, nor this post, but sometimes I see people glorifying this monument without critically assessing its history.
👀
Isn’t it beautiful !! I was amazed at how large it was and the detail on it
Took the picture in old town right?
Last time I was there I was hangovered and full of « all you can eat fondue » from the night before.
Great place !
Glad it’s dead
Pictures don’t really do this place justice. Because of the pond in front of it, there’s usually nothing in the picture that gives you a sense of scale.
Remember when I saw it in person the first time, that thing is _huge_. And carved out of a massive rock face, like a mini Mt. Rushmore. Amazing work by the sculptors.
I visited it many years ago with my father. I was very impressed. On the same day we went to see the Bourbaki Panorama as well.
As kid I was deeply impressed of the dedication and sense of duty of these man but this was 1977 when ideals were still worthwhile.
Same for the population who received the soldiers of the Bourbaki Army. To me as kid the people who abstained to help others were a desirable role model. Can’t say that this changed since but I know this is completely out of style.
Somebody told us that the artist who sculptured the Löwendenkmal committed suicide because he carved the lions paw with only four toes.
I don’t know if this is true but as my dad used to say: si non è vero e ben trovato. ( of it’s not true, it made up well).
The most beautiful monument I’ve ever seen, I bought a tiny replica of it at the shop next to it.
i read somewhere that the lion used as the model is still alive somewhere around titless
RIP lion, gone too soon
The Lion is not dead. He’s made of stone.