The Lion of Lucerne

The Lion of Lucerne

The Lion of Lucerne is a moving monument carved in the rock, dedicated to the memory of the Swiss Guards. The Lucerne audio-guided tour stops here, with respect, to evoke this famous work, a place of contemplation in the heart of the city.

A monument to the memory of the Swiss Guards

The Lion of Lucerne is a great bas-relief carved directly in the rock face, representing a dying lion, pierced by a spear. Designed by the sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, it was made at the beginning of the nineteenth century to honour the memory of the Swiss Guards who fell in 1792, in Paris, during the French Revolution. Of great emotional force, this monument marked by pain and dignity has been described as the saddest and most moving stone in the world.

What to see

Here you discover the great dying lion carved in the rock, above a pool, in an atmosphere of contemplation. The Lion of Lucerne honours the memory of the Swiss Guards who fell in 1792. It is a moving stop to be discovered with respect, in the heart of the city.

Practical information

The Lion of Lucerne lies in the heart of the city, reachable on foot. It is an open-air monument, freely accessible at all times from the public space, with no ticket office. It is a place of memory: it is best to behave there with calm and respect.

What does the Lion of Lucerne commemorate?

The memory of the Swiss Guards who fell in 1792 in Paris during the French Revolution; this dying lion was designed by the sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.

Where is the Lion of Lucerne?

In the heart of the city of Lucerne, in Switzerland.