The statue of the big penguin, Statue in Lyon, France
Statue le grand manchot is a large resin penguin sculpture standing on Quai Charles-de-Gaulle in Lyon, near the river. The figure is painted entirely in green and stands around 8 meters tall, giving it a strong presence along the waterfront promenade.
The sculpture was installed in 2006 as part of a public art project commissioned and funded by the Greater Lyon metropolitan authority. The aim was to bring a playful, contemporary feel to the modern Cité Internationale area.
The sculpture is part of a series of six figures called "Les Habitants," created by artist Xavier Veilhan and placed at different spots around the Cité Internationale. The other figures in the group include a bear, a pizza delivery person, and a girl on roller skates, each painted in a single bold color, giving the whole area the feel of an open-air story.
The sculpture stands outdoors on Quai Charles-de-Gaulle and can be visited at any time without a ticket. It is worth looking out for the other figures from the "Les Habitants" series nearby, as they are all within easy walking distance of each other.
The word "manchot" was coined in the 18th century by naturalist Philibert Commerson, who compared the bird's tiny wings to a missing arm. The penguin figure later became the mascot of the Lyon sports club Rhône Sportif, where it was given the name Alphonse.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
