Le Génie de la Liberté, Bronze statue at Place de la Bastille, France.
Le Génie de la Liberté is a bronze statue from 1836 that crowns the July Column at Place de la Bastille. The figure stands about 4 meters tall and depicts a winged man holding a torch and carrying broken chains.
Created by Auguste Dumont in 1836, the statue honors French citizens who fought against absolute monarchy during the July Revolution of 1830. It stands as a monument to France's pivotal struggle for freedom and self-governance.
The figure breaks from traditional French liberty representations by depicting a winged male form without the Phrygian cap. This departure from revolutionary symbolism created a different kind of freedom icon for Paris.
The monument rises about 50 meters above ground and overlooks three Parisian districts. It sits within Place de la Bastille, a busy public square with good access to metro stations and nearby streets.
A crypt beneath the July Column holds the remains of about 500 fighters who died during France's struggles for freedom. This hidden space transforms the monument into a tomb honoring those who gave their lives for the nation.
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