Equestrian statue of Louis XIII, Marble equestrian statue in Place des Vosges, France
The equestrian monument of King Louis XIII sits in the center of Place des Vosges, carved from white marble by two sculptors in the 1800s. The king appears seated atop a horse, positioned prominently within this historic square in central Paris.
An earlier bronze version was made in 1639 but was destroyed during the French Revolution when the metal was used to cast cannons. The marble replacement was created later and now occupies the same location.
The monument marks the royal connection to this square, which was established under Louis XIII's reign. It sits at the heart of a historic neighborhood where residents and visitors alike pass by this representation of power daily.
The monument sits in the center of the square and can be viewed from all sides as you walk through the space. Several nearby metro stations and bus stops make it easy to reach this location.
The marble horse contains internal reinforcements hidden inside its legs to prevent cracking and maintain stability. This engineering solution is invisible from the outside but reveals the care taken in creating this sculpture.
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