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LION OF LUCERNE

This beautiful stone carving of a dying lion was carved into the sandstone cliffs at the eastern end of the medieval Swiss town of Lucerne to commemorate the bravery of the Swiss mercenaries that gave their lives defending King Louis XVI of France during the French Revolution.

Designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen, and carved by German stonemason Lucas Ahorn, the monument was inaugurated in 1821 with strong support from local politicians, despite it angering the minority of Swiss liberals. Thankfully the royalty-loving politicians got it through, as it has become one of Lucerne’s main attractions.

American man of letters Mark Twain described the lion as “the saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world.”