Equestrian statue of Albert I, Equestrian statue in the 8th arrondissement, Paris, France
The statue équestre d'Albert Ier is a bronze equestrian statue in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France. It shows King Albert I of Belgium in military dress seated on a horse, set on a tall stone pedestal with relief panels and inscriptions.
The monument was proposed in 1934 to honor King Albert I of Belgium for his role in World War I and his tragic death in a climbing accident. It was inaugurated on 12 October 1938 in the presence of French President Albert Lebrun and King Leopold III.
During state visits to France, Belgian sovereigns often come to pay their respects at this monument to the 'King Knight'. The pedestal bears the names of Belgian provinces and cities that saw major battles, a visible reminder of the bond between the two countries.
The monument stands at the entrance to the Cours la Reine, near Place de la Concorde, in a public space open to all. You can walk around it freely, and the area is easy to reach on foot from nearby landmarks.
The pedestal includes a Latin inscription on its base and a bronze plaque on the ground behind it that lists the dignitaries present at the inauguration. The relief panels show scenes of Belgium and the war, with the dates MCMXIV and MCMXVIII.
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