Soldat Lacroix, Historical monument on Vauban Island, Saarlouis, Germany.
The bronze statue stands at the bridge to Vauban Island and depicts a French soldier in military dress from 1815. Sculptor Viktor Fontaine created the figure in 1973, and it now marks a notable spot in the town's geography.
In 1815, after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, a French soldier remained at his post on Halben Mond while French forces withdrew from Saarlouis into Prussia. This episode during the region's shifting borders left a lasting mark on local history.
The monument honors a French soldier whose story resonates with visitors as a symbol of duty in uncertain times. Walking around the statue, you sense how this place connects the region's French and German heritage in a tangible way.
The statue is easy to reach and sits at a central point in town where you can find it while taking a walk. For more information about the story, the local Tourist Information Center offers guided tours with interpreters.
Prussian officers provided the stranded French soldier with supplies and tobacco instead of capturing him. This unexpected gesture ultimately allowed him to make his way to Metz and rejoin his fellow soldiers.
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