Monument to Sadi Carnot

Monument to Sadi Carnot is a bronze sculpture at Place de la République in Dijon depicting the fifth President of France in an oratorial stance. The central figure is flanked by allegorical female forms, while behind it rises an altar-like structure topped with flame elements.

The memorial was inaugurated in 1899 by President Émile Loubet to honor Sadi Carnot, who was assassinated in 1894. The sculptors Mathurin Moreau and Paul Gasq created it following this tragic event to preserve his memory.

The statue shows Carnot in an oratorial pose, surrounded by allegorical female figures representing Fame and Sorrow. This arrangement tells a story of political power and human loss that visitors can discover by walking around the monument.

The memorial sits at the center of Place de la République and is easily accessible from the surrounding street network. Since 2012 renovations added a water basin and fountains around the sculpture, which help organize the plaza and provide clear reference points.

Behind the main figure lies a less noticed component: an altar-like structure with flame symbols that gives the memorial a more ceremonial quality. This rear element is often overlooked by visitors even though it deepens the meaning of the whole composition.