Equestrian statue of Marshal Joffre, Equestrian statue and memorial in the 7th arrondissement, Paris, France
The Statue équestre du maréchal Joffre is a bronze sculpture in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, showing Joseph Joffre mounted on a horse in full military uniform. It rests on a granite base engraved with inscriptions referencing his key battles, including the Marne and Verdun.
The idea for the monument was born in 1936, led by a group around Jean Fabry who wanted to find a fitting location for Joffre. After discussions that included a site near the Porte Maillot, the end of the Champ-de-Mars was chosen, and the work was unveiled on June 10, 1939, by President Albert Lebrun.
The statue stands at the end of the Champ-de-Mars, facing the École Militaire, and lines up with the statue of Marshal Foch at the Trocadéro. This deliberate arrangement shows how Paris anchors its military figures into the fabric of the city.
The memorial stands outdoors at the end of the Champ-de-Mars and is freely accessible at any time, with no ticket or reservation needed. It is worth approaching from several angles to take in both the equestrian figure and the inscriptions on the base.
The project was partly funded through the sale of special postage stamps bearing Joffre's portrait, which gave it broad public backing at the time. The sculpture was created by Maxime Réal del Sarte, who won a competition against several other artists to carry out the commission.
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