Marie Noël, Statue in Auxerre, France
The Marie Noël statue is a work of art in Auxerre, France, created by sculptor François Brochet to honor the local poet of the same name. It is placed in the public space of the city and depicts the poet in a still pose.
Marie Rouget, known under the pen name Marie Noël, was born in Auxerre in 1883 and lived there until her death in 1967. The statue was created after her death as a way to keep her memory present in the city where she spent her whole life.
Marie Noël was the pen name of Marie Rouget, a poet who spent her entire life in Auxerre and never sought fame outside it. Her poems, often religious in tone, are still read in France today and hold a place in the local identity of the city.
The statue is outdoors and can be seen at any time of day. A short walk through the old part of Auxerre makes it easy to include in a broader tour of the city center.
Marie Noël chose her pen name by combining her given name Marie with the word Noël because she was born on Christmas Day. She spent almost her entire life in the same house in Auxerre, rarely traveling far from the city.
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