Dying Lion, Lucerne

The Dying Lion (Löwendenkmal) in Lucerne is a famous sculpture by Danish master Bertel Thorvaldsen, dedicated to the Swiss Guards who died defending King Louis XVI’s Tuileries Palace during the French Revolution in 1792.

Historical Background

When Parisian rebels stormed the Tuileries Palace, around a thousand Swiss Guards remained loyal to the king. Most of them were killed, partly because the king ordered them to cease fire. Karl Pfyffer von Altishofen, a Guards officer who was on leave in Lucerne at the time, later initiated a monument to honor his fallen comrades. It was paid for by donations.

• Thorvaldsen made the initial sketches in 1818 while working in Rome.
• The sculpture was completed in 1821 by Swiss sculptor Lucas Ahorn using Thorvaldsen’s designs.

Location & Access

• Originally outside the old city in a quarry, the monument is now in central Lucerne.
• Address: Denkmalstrasse 4.
• A 15–20 minute walk from the Kapellbrücke (Wooden Chapel Bridge) leads you to the site.
• The sculpture is surrounded by a small park with a pond in front.
• Entrance: Free, open 24 hours.

Description of the Sculpture

• A lion about ten meters long, carved into a steep rock face and lying in a deep niche.
• A broken spear is stuck in its side, and its paw rests on a shield bearing the fleur-de-lis, symbol of the French monarchy.
• Nearby is a shield with the coat of arms of the Swiss Confederation.
• Above the niche: “HELVETIORUM FIDEI AC VIRTUTI” (“dedicated to the loyalty and courage of the Swiss”).

Visitor Tips

• The monument is very popular, with many tourists visiting throughout the day.
• For fewer crowds, visit early morning or late evening.

Legacy

• Mark Twain called it “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.”
• The Dying Lion became famous worldwide and inspired similar monuments, such as the Lion of Atlanta in the USA and the Bavarian Lion in Nafplio, Greece.