Lion Monument

The “Lion of Lucerne” is located in the middle of a rock grotto in an idyllic park in the city of Lucerne. Ten newly designed information panels provide visitors with interesting facts about the history and multifaceted significance of the monument. The content is available in German and English; French and Italian versions can be accessed via a QR code. At the same link, visitors will also find additional information to further deepen their understanding of the eight topics covered by the information panels in an accessible format.

The Lion Monument is visited annually by around 1.4 million people. Yet very few are aware that the story behind this imposing work is a sad one—and invites visitors on a journey back in time.

Uprising in Paris

The artwork, measuring ten by six meters, was erected in honor of the Swiss Guards who fell during the Storming of the Tuileries in Paris in 1792. But how did this come about?

The date was August 10, 1792. At that time, some 1,000 Swiss guards were protecting the life of King Louis XVI of France with unconditional loyalty and bravery. On that fateful day, the revolutionaries stormed the king’s residence, nearly annihilating his bodyguard. “The Lions Monument,” an impressive memorial, pays tribute to the selfless heroes of the Swiss Guard.

The Man Behind the Vision

One of the guardsmen who was not in Paris on that day but was on leave at home in Lucerne was Officer Karl Pfyffer von Altishofen. The tragic loss of his comrades-in-arms affected him deeply and haunted him for years. So he set about erecting a dignified monument to the fallen men and proposed the rock face below the Wesemlin as the site. To finance this major project, Karl Pfyffer launched a fundraising campaign.

The model of a larger-than-life lion, created by the famous Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen, became a reality in just over a year and was unveiled in 1821—a masterpiece that continues to inspire people around the world to this day! Or, to quote the American writer Mark Twain: “The Lion of Lucerne is the saddest and most moving piece of stone in the world.”

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