Liberty Enlightening the World, Bronze statue on Île aux Cygnes, France
Description
Liberty Enlightening the World is a bronze sculpture standing just over 11 meters tall on Île aux Cygnes, a narrow artificial island in the Seine River within the 15th arrondissement. The figure rests on a rectangular stone base and holds a torch in her raised right hand while carrying a tablet in her left.
History
Auguste Bartholdi made this scaled-down version in 1889, three years after finishing the larger one in New York. The work was turned 180 degrees in 1937 for the Paris World's Fair and has faced westward ever since.
Culture
Local residents call it the little sister of the New York monument, and it serves as a reminder of shared republican values between two nations. Parisians often pass by while walking or jogging along the riverside path that circles the island.
Practical
You can reach the island by crossing either Pont de Grenelle or Pont de Bir-Hakeim, with the latter offering metro access nearby. Walking along the riverside promenade allows you to see the figure from different angles.
Did you know?
The New York original was designed first, yet this smaller version looks back symbolically across the Atlantic in its direction. The inscription on the tablet lists two dates, July 4th 1776 and July 14th 1789, both marking important moments in the history of freedom.
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