Lion Monument

Lore & Background

The monument was conceived by Karl Pfyffer von Altishofen, an officer of the Swiss Guards who was on leave in Lucerne during the August 1792 fighting. He later wrote a book detailing the regiment, which motivated him to organize a public subscription to finance a commemorative monument. He began collecting money in 1818, primarily from European royal houses, and commissioned Thorvaldsen to design the image and Ahorn to carve it in a former sandstone quarry near Lucerne.

The monument is dedicated 'Helvetiorum Fidei ac Virtuti' ('To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss'). It depicts a dying lion impaled by a spear, covering a shield bearing the fleur-de-lis of the French monarchy, with another shield bearing the coat of arms of Switzerland beside it. The inscription lists the names of the officers and gives approximate numbers: 760 died (DCCLX) and 350 survived (CCCL).

Even before completion, there was concern about its political message glorifying the ancien régime. It elicited praise, national pride, and public criticism, with some displeased that it honored Swiss citizens dying for a foreign monarchy. Swiss liberals felt it glorified a conservative, counter-revolutionary mindset, and some threatened to saw off one of the lion's paws in protest.

Reader's Guide

The Lion Monument stands as a significant historical and cultural landmark in Switzerland, commemorating the sacrifice of the Swiss Guards who died defending the Tuileries Palace in 1792. The monument's creation was driven by Karl Pfyffer von Altishofen, whose book stirred conservative sentiment and led to a public subscription funded largely by European royal houses. The sculpture, carved into a cliff face, measures ten metres by six metres and depicts a mortally wounded lion—a symbol of courage and loyalty.

Its reception has been mixed: while praised for its artistry and emotional power—Mark Twain called it 'the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world'—it also drew criticism for glorifying service to a foreign monarchy. The monument has appeared in literature by Thomas Carlyle, Elinor Brent-Dyer, Brad Thor, and Patti Smith. A near-identical copy, The Lion, was installed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1894 to honor Confederate soldiers, but was removed in 2021 amid anti-racist sentiment. The monument remains a major tourist attraction and a protected site since 2006.

Did You Know?

• The monument was designed by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen and carved by stonemason Lukas Ahorn in 1819–21.
• Around 760 Swiss Guards were killed defending the Tuileries Palace in 1792, though late 20th-century research suggests this number may be too high.
• The monument was placed under Swiss monument protection in 2006.
• A near-identical copy called The Lion of Atlanta (or Lion of Atlanta) was installed in Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia in 1894 and removed in 2020.