Monument to Léon Serpollet, Steam engine pioneer memorial in Place Saint-Ferdinand, Paris, France
Monument to Léon Serpollet is a bronze statue in Place Saint-Ferdinand showing the inventor aboard his steam-powered vehicle. The figure stands on a sturdy base and shapes the streetscape of the 17th arrondissement with its detailed rendering of early automotive engineering.
Artist Jean Boucher created this memorial in 1907 to honor a man who perfected steam-powered vehicles. The work documents an important phase of early automobile history in France.
The monument honors an inventor who transformed steam-powered vehicles and shaped Paris as a hub for technical progress. Visitors see here a symbol of the passion French engineers brought to their craft during the industrial age.
The memorial stands on a public square and is freely accessible at all times. The location is easy to reach on foot and offers the chance to view the statue from different angles.
Serpollet developed a high-pressure steam system that made vehicles faster than many early gasoline engines of his era. This technology was far ahead of its time and showed how promising steam engineering could be.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
