Lion Monument

The dying lion is a sculpture carved into the rock in the very center of the city of Lucerne. This world-famous composition by Bertel Thorvaldsen was erected in honor of the Swiss Guards who died in the 1792 uprising.

This lion in the rock is the very first image of an animal on monuments all over Europe. He cannot leave anyone indifferent, because it is simply impossible to look at this human art without a lump in your throat. Such a monument does not oblige anything, in any other state it would have a place, and no one would have a desire to demolish it.

The history of the "Dying Lion" sculpture tells us the following: The Great French Revolution had been going on for three years in a row, but the king was still on the throne. Nevertheless, one day the Tuileries government house was taken. At the same time, the military went over to the side of the rebellious people, and the Swiss guards remained loyal to the king, who swore an oath of allegiance to their ruler. The monarch gave the order not to shoot, which condemned hundreds of loyal guardsmen to death.

The idea to erect a monument to the tragically deceased guardsmen came to Karl Pfuffer, who was also a guardsman, but at that merciless time was on a well-deserved vacation, which is why he remained alive. He was so stunned by the death of his twin brothers that he decided to perpetuate their names in this way. Pfuffre had to wait three years to turn his excellent idea into reality.

To erect the monument to the "Dying Lion", Pfuffer decided to involve the internationally renowned sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, to whom he wrote a letter. The famous sculptor liked this idea, and after a while he sent the first sketches of the future masterpiece. Thorvaldsen himself did not erect this monument for unknown reasons, but Eggenschweller took up the work, who died prematurely before he could finish it. The sculpture of the cultural monument in the rock was carried out by the sculptor Lucas Ahorna, who strictly adhered to the layout of Trvaldsenao.

The sculpture represents a lion, which is located in its lair in the middle of a steep cliff. The figure's head is tilted to one side, and a broken spear is peeking out from the shoulder. It is green and peaceful around the monument.

The festive opening of the monument to the "Dying Lion" took place 29 years after the troubled events that ended with the death of soldiers loyal to the king. The nobility of Europe and Switzerland, as well as the guardsmen who remained alive, were present at the opening of the monument.

Every year, a festival is celebrated here, at the foot of the monument to the "Dying Lion", which is the most important event of the city.