Lion Statues: Lion of Belfort Reduced Replica - Paris, France

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Lion of Belfort Reduced Replica

Paris, France

Topic: Lion Statues

Lion of Belfort - Paris

GPS: N 48° 50.040 E 002° 19.925

Short Description:

The replica of the Lion of Belfort is located in the Place Denfert-Rochereau in Paris.

Long Description:

Belfort, in north-east France, is strategically located in a gap between the Vosges and the Jura linking the Rhine and the Rhône Rivers. During the Franco-Prussian War the city's 17,000 defenders were under siege for 83 days by 40,000 Prussian troops during a 103 day military assault. During the siege the Prussian army fired more than 400,000 artillery shells into the town.

The Lion of Belfort is a statue by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi. This is a one-third size bronze replica of the carved sandstone lion in the city of Belfort, France that honors the successful defense of the town, under the command of Colonel Denfert-Rochereau, during the 103 day long assault and siege of 1870 - 1871 during the Franco-Prussian War . The replica was installed in Place Denfer-Rochereau in 1880, and restored in 2001.

The monument was erected in Paris in 1880 and restored in 2001. On the base of the Lion is inscribed:

A LA
DEFENSE NATIONALE
1870 - 1871