Aux enfants du Rhône défenseurs de la Patrie, War memorial in parc de la Tête d'Or, Lyon, France.
Aux enfants du Rhône défenseurs de la Patrie is a bronze and stone memorial in Parc de la Tête d'Or that displays military figures arranged in a group formation. The bronze soldiers stand on a stone base that grounds the composition.
Sculptor Etienne Pagny created this memorial and inaugurated it in 1887 to honor soldiers from the Rhône who died in the Franco-Prussian War. The monument was erected decades after the conflict, when remembrance of those losses remained strong.
The inscription honors the young defenders of the Rhône region, making it a focal point where visitors pause to reflect on local sacrifice during wartime. People gather here to remember those who came from the surrounding area to serve.
The memorial is located within Parc de la Tête d'Or and is easily reached through several park entrances. The site is accessible during daylight hours, and visitors should explore the park when the sun is sufficient to see the monument's details clearly.
The monument merges classical sculptural traditions with direct military symbolism through its choice of materials. The pairing of bronze surfaces with grey stone creates a color contrast that draws attention to the soldier figures themselves.
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