Lion Monument
Löwendenkmal
A dying lion carved into a sandstone cliff to commemorate the Swiss mercenaries who died in 1792 defending the French king. Mark Twain called it the saddest stone sculpture in the world.
The Lion Monument was designed by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen and carved in 1821 into the cliff face of a disused sandstone quarry. It is about 10 meters long. The wounded lion, with a broken spear in its body, lies on a shield bearing fleurs-de-lis. It commemorates the Swiss Guards who died in 1792 defending Louis XVI at the Tuileries Palace in Paris during the French Revolution. The Latin inscription above means 'To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss.' In front of the sculpture is a small pond surrounded by green trees, creating a solemn atmosphere.
Next door is the Glacier Garden (Gletschergarten), with ice-age glacial potholes and a museum (entry about CHF 22), which you can visit along the way. The monument is free and open all day; allow 15-20 minutes. Getting there: about 10 minutes' walk from the Chapel Bridge, or take bus 1, 19, 22 or 23 to the Löwenplatz stop.
Note: this is a memorial site, so please keep quiet and do not climb on the edge of the pond.
Opening hours
Open all day; free admission
Nearby sights
- Glacier Garden
- Bourbaki Panorama
- Lucerne Lakeside Promenade (Nationalquai)
- Church of St. Leodegar (Hofkirche)
- Chapel Bridge
- Musegg Wall
- KKL Luzern & Kunstmuseum
- Lucerne Old Town (Weinmarkt)