Colonne Louis-XVI, Victory column at Place Maréchal-Foch, Nantes, France
The Colonne Louis-XVI is a 28 meter tall stone column in the heart of Place Maréchal-Foch in Nantes, crowned with a bronze statue. The structure serves as a striking architectural landmark at the intersection of several main thoroughfares.
Construction began in 1790 during the French Revolution as a tribute to King Louis XVI, yet was not completed until 1823 following major shifts in French politics. The extended timeline reflects the unstable period between the monument's conception and its final realization.
The statue portrays King Louis XVI dressed as a Roman emperor, holding a command staff and a scroll in his hands. This classical representation shows how the city chose to commemorate a deceased monarch through formal, dignified imagery.
The monument occupies a central location in Nantes, making it an easy reference point for navigation around the city. The site is well-connected to public transportation and serves as a practical gathering spot for travelers.
This stands as one of the few public memorials in France honoring a executed king. The choice to commemorate such a controversial figure makes this monument a rare testament to how the nation grappled with its revolutionary past.
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