Statues have been erected all over the world, to represent everything from religious deities, historical events to influential people. Wandering around a new city and coming across sculptures, especially, by accident in public places can be a very pleasant surprise. In addition to the castles, squares, palaces and parks, Europe is abundant with statues that tourists are really interested in and must see.
Image source: wikipedia.org
These statues may serve diverse purposes, some may be icons of classicism, while some - models of humanism. Not surprisingly, sculptures and statues are the foundations of European and Mediterranean culture and civilization. In cities full of majestic monuments, it is a delight to bump into stunning sculptures and artistic statues, each having a story to tell. While there are a thousand that have been made, only a few are really extraordinary and picture-worthy. And so we bring to you the most famous statues in Europe, that add color and emotion to even the most dreary areas of the capital. There are many ancient and modern attractions, which annually attract millions of tourists.
1. Statue of Liberty on the circle aux Cygnes, Paris
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A small artificial island on the river Seine in Paris, the circle aux Cygnes, Isle of the Swans in English, was created in 1827 to protect the port of Grenelle. Adorning the island is the quarter scale replica of the Statue of Liberty. Standing at 22 meters tall, this younger sibling of the Statue of Liberty (New York), now faces west in the direction (previously faced east towards the Eiffel Tower). Interestingly, the statue was given to Paris by the Parisian community in America to mark the centennial of the French Revolution!
Address: circle aux Cygnes, 75015 Paris, France
Nearby attractions: Eiffel Tower, Palais De Chaillot, Champ De Mars and Cite De I Architecture Et Du Patrimoine
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2. The Lion of Belfort, Paris
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A monumental sculpture the Lion of Belfort is located in Paris’ popular public square Place Denfert-Rochereau, which was previously known as Place d'Enfer. Made entirely of copper, is essentially a replica of its grand sandstone version of Lion of Belfort at Belfort, France. Reduced to a third of its original size, the statue now measures 4 meters in height and 7 meters in length. The statue symbolizes the resistance of Colonel Denfert-Rochereau during the siege of the fortress of Belfort in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.
Address: Place Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France
Nearby attractions: The Catacombs, Luxembourg gardens
Take a look at the most beautiful architecture cities in Europe
3. Fontaine Saint-Sulpice, Paris
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A monumental fountain, the Fontaine Saint-Sulpice, was constructed between 1843 and 1848 by the architect Louis Visconti. Visconti’s remarkable work style is visible in this monument too, after the tomb of Napoleon. The fountain having four statues, represent French religious figures, who were famous for their eloquence in the 17th century. The fountain was primarily built to improve the city water supply. Given the fountain’s placement in front of a church, the authorities ordered that the theme of the fountain be of religious eloquence.
Address: Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris, France
Nearby attractions: Pierre Herme, Church Of Saint-Sulpice, Saint Sulpice and Mundolingua
4. Pallas Athene Fountain, Vienna
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Situated right outside the Austrian Parliament building, the Pallas Athene Fountain adds to the splendor of this most important building in Vienna. Erected between 1893 and 1902, the fountain has a richly decorated base. Four figures that are allegorical representations of the four most important rivers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, lace the bottom. This marble statue was created by sculptor Carl Kundmann. Pallas Athene, actually, is the goddess of wisdom. This sculpture of the goddess holds in her right hand a small figure of Nike - the goddess of victory and in her left hand a spear. Surrounded by a personification of the legislation on the right and the execution of the laws, on the left.
Address: Dr.Karl-Renner-Ring, 1010 Wien, Austria
Nearby attractions: Palace of Justice, Volksgarten, Palais Auersperg and Wiener Eistraum
Discover the best things to do in Vienna for your next trip
5. Sigismund Column, Warsaw
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Located in Castle Square the Sigismund Column is one of Warsaw's most famous landmarks, commemorating King Sigismund III Vasa. This king had moved Poland's capital from Krakutew to Warsaw in 1596. The statue’s column, initially of bronze was rebuilt in 1944, after being demolished in 1944 during the Warsaw Uprising by the Germans. It now stands on a granite (from the Strzegom mine) column.
Address: Plac Zamkowy, Warszawa, Poland
Nearby attractions: The Royal Castle, The Royal Castle in Warsaw, Senatorska Street and Museum of City of Warsaw
6. The Thinker (Musée Rodin), Paris
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Placed on a stone pedestal, The Thinker is a bronze sculpture of a nude male. The work represents philosophy by depicting an over life-size statue of a man sitting on a rock with his chin resting on the fist, as though in deep thought. Cast in multiple versions around the world, the Thinker was originally named The Poet, as it is believed to be a representation from Dante’s The Divine Comedy.
Address: 79 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France
Nearby attractions: Army Museum, Eglise Du Dome, Dome Des Invalides and Musee De Larmee
Must Visit: Best museums in Europe
7. Bavaria statue, Munich
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One of the most powerful statues and important landmarks in Munich, the Bavaria statue stands for Bavaria’s strength and power. Added to the Theresienwiese in 1850, Bavaria here is symbolized by an Amazon woman who is holding the wreath of victory in her left hand and a sword in a right, along with a majestic lion by her side. The statue was designed by the sculptor Ludwig Michael von Schwanthaler in 1844.
Address: Theresienhöhe 16, 80339 München, Germany
Nearby attractions: Theresienwiese, Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum, Endless Staircase and St. Paul's Church
8. Manneken Pis, Belgium
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Literally translating to ‘Little man Pee’, in English the Manneken Pis is a small bronze sculpture and an important landmark in Brussels. The sculpture depicts a small boy urinating straight into a fountain's basin. Located at the junction of Rue de l'Étuve/Stoofstraat and Rue du Chne/Eikstraat, the sculpture stands at 61 cm tall. Repeatedly stolen, the recent sculpture was last restored in 1965 (first made in 1619). With many legends attached to the sculpture, the most famous one is that the troops of this two-year-old lord were battling against the troops of the Berthouts, who put the infant in a basket to urinate on the opponents, who eventually lost the battle.
Address: 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Nearby attractions: Grand Place and Le Coq Dor
Do read: How to plan Europe trip on a budget
9. Hermannsdenkmal, Detmold, Germany
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Located in the quaint district of Lippe, the Hermannsdenkmal stands on the densely forested hill of Grotenburg. The monument is beautifully located in the mystic remains of a circular rampart. Commemorating the Cherusci war chief Arminius, the location of the statue is believed to be the actual battle location. The statue stands tall at a height of 53.44 meters. The direction that the statue faces reflects the idea that Varus' troops were coming from this direction.
Address: Grotenburg 50, 32760 Detmold, Germany
Nearby attractions: No nearby attractions but great activities like rock climbing.
10. Niederwalddenkmal, Rhein, Germany
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Constructed to commemorate the foundation of the German Empire after the end of the Franco-Prussian War, the Niederwalddenkmal was sculpted by Johannes Schilling. Beautifully located on a board hill between the rivers Rhine and Wisper, the monument can be reached by a gondola lift from Rüdesheim.
Address: 65385 Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany
Nearby attractions: Rüdesheimer Berg
There you have it, ten best statues in Europe that will leave you delighted and mesmerized.
Also check out the other most important landmarks of any area, the most beautiful bridges in Europe.
Featured image source: wikipedia.org
