The six Parisian Statues of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty made headlines this week after French politician Raphaël Glucksmann called on the U.S. to return it in light of current politics. But did you know that there are already numerous replicas of Lady Liberty throughout France and six of them in Paris?

Île aux Cygnes

The most famous one is the 11.5 meter tall lady (for comparison: the original statue measures 46.50 meters) on the southern tip of Île aux Cygnes, not far from the Eiffel Tower. It was a gift from the Comité des Américains de Paris for the centenary of the French Revolution and was supposed to be placed at the Place des États-Unis, but it was too big. The statue does not face the center of the city, but looks toward New York.

Musée d’Orsay

This 2.85-meter-high version, which stands in the center of the museum’s main hall, was commissioned by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the creator of the original Statue of Liberty, and sold to the Musée du Luxembourg. After his death, the statue was installed outside the museum in the Luxembourg Gardens, not far from the sculptor’s former home at 82 rue d’Assas.

It remained there until 2011, when it was moved to the Musée d’Orsay after repeated vandalism.

Jardin du Luxembourg

And yet, there she still is, on the lawn along Rue Guynemer at the western edge of the park. A miracle, a mirage? Nope, just a new copy.

Musée des Arts et Métiers

At the Musée des Arts et Métiers, you will find not one, but two statues. The first is a bronze copy made from the original plaster model created by Bartholdi in 1878 and stands outside the museum, next to the chapel’s apse. The second is inside, on a display in the center of the main hall.

Place Michel Debré

A miniature version is hidden in the chest of the 5-meter statue Le Centaure on Place Michel Debré, created by French artist César in 1985. You really have to look closely to see it, though, as it is only a few centimeters tall. In the second photo, you can spot it peeking out of the centaur’s chest.

Pont de l’Alma

Not a Lady, but a life-size replica of the Flame of Liberty can be found on the right bank side of the Pont de l’Alma bridge. It has become an unofficial memorial to Lady Di, who died in a car crash in the tunnel that runs under the bridge.

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