Statue of Liberty-Paris at a glance
Positioned between the Grenelle and Bir-Hakeim bridges on the southern tip of the Île aux Cygnes (Swan Island), the Statue of Liberty in Paris is one of the most famous replicas of the original. Built using the model designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, it was gifted to France by the American expat community three years after the unveiling of its big sister in New York, Liberty Enlightening the World.
While they share the same form, they differ in height, construction materials, and orientation. The Parisian version stands 12 meters (about 39 feet) tall, while the original is four times that size. It was cast in bronze by the Thiébaut Frères art foundry, whereas the American original was crafted from copper by Gustave Eiffel. Located less than 2 km (about 1.2 miles) from the Eiffel Tower, it initially faced away from the United States to avoid turning its back on the Élysée Palace.
Inaugurated by Sadi Carnot during the 1889 Exposition Universelle, the statue was rotated to face west during the 1937 exhibition. Check the commemorative plaque on the pedestal, which displays the dates of both the French and American revolutions. In an interesting quirk of history, the statue was loaned to Japan during the Year of France in Japan. The exhibit was such a success that Japan subsequently acquired its own replica.
You do not need to walk out onto the Île aux Cygnes to get a good look. Many travelers find that taking a sightseeing boat cruise is a much better way to see it. Alternatively, you can admire it from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
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I had often heard about this miniature Statue of Liberty, but I had never taken the time to go see it. I saw it at night during a dinner cruise on the Seine and it is quite beautiful and unusual to look at. However, the sculpture is not worth the trip on its own. You can take the opportunity to go shopping at Beaugrenelle.
It is also a meeting point for athletes. Just below the statue, on the Île aux Cygnes, small climbing walls and punching bags have been installed. Surprising.