Paris, France features some of the most famous monuments and landmarks in the world. While monuments like the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre Pyramid attract audiences from across the world, those same audiences have been able to engage with the city in other ways thanks to some of the more obscure and outstanding monuments that are spread across the city. These pieces have also made a notable on the communities where they reside.
The Flame of Liberty is a full-sized, gold-leaf-covered replica of the flame of the torch from the Statue of Liberty that resides within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower. The sculpture of a flame, executed in gilded copper, supported by a pedestal of gray-and-black marble was dedicated in 1989. The Flame of Liberty has become an unofficial memorial for Princess Diana after her car crashed in the underpass just under the square in 1997. Since 2019, the site has been officially named Place Diana.
The Place du Châtelet contains the Fontaine du Palmier. Designed to provide fresh drinking water to the population of the neighborhood and to commemorate the victories of Napoleon Bonaparte, the monument was one of a series of fifteen fountains commissioned in 1806. The column takes its name from the sculpted palm leaves at the top and features a statue of Victory made of gilded bronze, carrying the laurels of victory. Statues of Egyptian sphinxes spouting streams of water were added in 1858.
The Fontaine Saint-Michel was constructed in 1858–1860 during the French Second Empire. A sculpture of the Archangel Michael wrestling with the devil is the central piece, although it also features two winged dragons on either side of the fountain and bas-reliefs and ornamental foliage. Additionally, the fountain contains four statues that represent the cardinal virtues.
While many of the landmarks in the city have centuries of history associated with them, Paris is also home to monuments that have been created in more recent times. Created in 1985 by French sculptor César Baldaccini, what is commonly known as Cesar’s Centaur features a head that is a self-portrait of the sculptor. The aggressive nature of the piece is juxtaposed with the dove in its hand.
These are just a few of the obscure and outstanding monuments that are spread across Paris. The city is full of monuments and landmarks of all different sizes from various eras that have helped both residents and tourists engage with the city in different but equally powerful ways. Doing so has impacted the identity of Paris and France as a whole.
