Bust of Claude-Marius Vaïsse, Commemorative bust in the 6th arrondissement, Lyon, France
The bust of Claude-Marius Vaïsse is a stone commemorative sculpture in the 6th arrondissement of Lyon, placed in the Tête d'Or park near the velodrome. It portrays the man on a large pedestal and stands as a memorial to one of the city's most influential prefects.
Claude-Marius Vaïsse was appointed prefect of Lyon on March 4, 1853, and led a major transformation of the city's street layout, earning him the nickname 'the Lyonnais Haussmann.' During his time in office, the Rue de la République, several new squares, and the Tête d'Or park itself were all created.
The bust stands in the Tête d'Or park, where families and joggers pass by it daily without always stopping to look. The oversized pedestal gives a sense that something larger was once planned for this spot.
The memorial is freely accessible inside the Tête d'Or park and easy to reach on foot once you are inside. Heading toward the velodrome area is a good way to orient yourself toward the pedestal.
The original plan called for a full standing statue, but after a political shift the finished sculpture was melted down and turned into doors and faucets for public buildings. The bust seen today is what remained, and the plaque on the base incorrectly names the figure as Jean-Claude Vaïsse.
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