Statue of Pierre-Paul Riquet, Bronze statue in Béziers, France
The Monument à Pierre-Paul Riquet is a bronze statue standing 4 meters tall in Béziers, France. It depicts Riquet on a rock, looking out over the point where the waters divide.
The statue was inaugurated in 1838 after a public subscription led by the Archaeological Society of Béziers. It was created by sculptor David d'Angers and unveiled with three days of celebrations.
The monument is a focal point of local identity, honoring the man who built the Canal du Midi. Residents often use the allées around it as a meeting place, and the statue watches over daily life in the city center.
The statue stands in the middle of the Allées Paul Riquet, a broad promenade in the center of Béziers. It is easy to reach on foot from nearby streets, and the area around it is flat and open.
The statue shows Riquet on the rock of Naurouze, the watershed point he identified for the canal. Few notice that the monument was funded by nearly 50,000 francs from local donors.
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