Lion of Lucerne

monument, Lucerne, Switzerland

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June 30, 2026

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The "Lion of Lucerne" is a monument located in Lucerne, Switzerland. It was carved out of sandstone in 1819–1821 by Bertel Thorvaldsen. The monument commemorates the Swiss Guards who were killed defending the Tuileries Palace in Paris in 1792 during the French Revolution. It depicts a dying lion, mortally wounded by a spear, with a shield bearing the fleur-de-lis of the French monarchy. The monument is a poignant symbol of sacrifice and loyalty.1

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Lucerne
…landmarks are Bertel Thorvaldsen’s “Lion of Lucerne” monument (1819–21), in memory of the Swiss guards slain while defending the Tuileries in Paris in 1792; the Glacier Garden, a relic of the Ice Age excavated in 1872–75; and the comprehensive Swiss Transport Museum (1959). On the left bank are the…
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…landmarks are Bertel Thorvaldsen’s “Lion of Lucerne” monument (1819–21), in memory of the Swiss guards slain while defending the Tuileries in Paris in 1792; the Glacier Garden, a relic of the Ice Age excavated in 1872–75; and the comprehensive Swiss Transport Museum (1959). On the left bank are the…
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