Strassburger Monument, Memorial sculpture in St. Alban district, Switzerland
The Strassburger Monument is a sculpture in the St. Alban district featuring marble figures showing Helvetia offering refuge to a person in distress. Relief panels alongside the main figures display historical scenes and regional symbols.
The monument arose from events in the 1870s when the siege of Strasbourg forced people to flee and Swiss communities mobilized to help them. Committees from multiple cantons joined efforts to commemorate this act of solidarity for future generations.
The monument depicts Helvetia, Switzerland's symbolic guardian figure, watching over people in need and offering shelter. The arrangement of figures tells of a moment when neighboring nations helped one another across borders.
The monument sits in Elisabethenanlage park, which is easily reached on foot from Basel SBB station. Visitors can explore the surrounding area with various public transit options nearby.
The relief panels contain historical details such as an old grain-based food item and heraldic symbols from multiple Swiss cantons and Strasbourg. These elements remind visitors of the regional connections that existed during this moment of shared responsibility.
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