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The Statue of Liberty in Paris

There are not one but two Statues of Liberty in Paris, as well as a few other Statue of Liberty-related sculptures and models. Of course, the Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to the United States, created by Frédéric Bartholdi, starting in 1870, completed in 1884, and dedicated in New York Harbor 1886. Here's where you can visit the Statue of Liberty in Paris...

The Statue of Liberty in the Luxembourg Gardens

Luxembourg Gardens
6th arrondissement
Métro: Odeon, Notre-Dame-des-Champs, Port-Royal

A small version of the Statue of Liberty, which happens to be my favorite of the various versions in Paris, is in the Luxembourg Gardens. This six-foot bronze statue was made by Frédéric Bartholdi himself in 1870, as part of his planning for the big version. If you visit this Statue, be sure to look for a nearby tree and plaque dedicated to the American victims of 9/11.

The Statue of Liberty on the Ile des Cygnes

Pont de Grenelle
15th arrondissement
Métro: Javel - André Citroën

A much larger version of the Statue of Liberty is a 35-foot replica located on a tiny island on the Seine called the Ile des Cygne, just next to a bridge called the Pont de Grenelle, half a mile or so South-West of the Eiffel Tower. If you visit the Eiffel Tower, you can see the Statue from up top; take a look at the signs that point out the various monuments and buildings around the Tower, and on the sign to the South-West you'll find the Statue indicated. This is how I first found out that this version of the Statue existed! Immediately after spotting it from the Eiffel Tower I took an evening stroll along the river to go check it out in person. You can get from the bridge right down onto the little island to see the Statue from close up.

The Flame of Liberty

Pont de l'Alma
8th arrondissement
Métro: Alma - Marceau

A sort of third but partial version of the Statue of Liberty is a replica of just the flame from her torch, called the Flame of Liberty (Flamme de la Liberté), and it's situated near a bridge called the Pont de l'Alma, at the Northern end. This copy of the flame is full-scale; it's the same size as the flame on her torch on the real version in New York Harbor.

Statue of Liberty construction models

Musée des Arts et Metiers
60, Rue Réaumur, 75003 Paris
Phone: 01 53 01 82 00
Métro: Arts et Métiers, Réaumur-Sébastopol
Website

You can also see a few fantastic miniature sculptures depicting the construction of the Statue of Liberty, complete with tiny workers on tiny scaffolding, in the Musée des Arts et Metiers.

Enjoy!

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