The lion is an important symbol of the city of Lucerne. The monument was designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen, a Danish sculptor, and carved by Lukas Ahorn in 1820-1821. This beautiful stone carving is just off the old city area among a peaceful garden and small pond.
For hundreds of years, the Swiss guards have been hired by various kings as a mercenary army for hire because they were renowned for their skills. The history of Switzerland having so many languages is in part due to the soldiers bringing back the languages of the countries they served.
During the French Revolution in the 1790s, King Louis XVI hired a group of Swiss soldiers to protect his monarchy. On August 10, 1792, as revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris, around 600 Swiss Guards were massacred while trying to defend the king. The sacrifice of these soldiers became a symbol of loyalty and bravery.
The monument features a dying lion, wounded by a spear but still covering a shield with the fleur-de-lis, the symbol of the French monarchy. Another shield nearby bears the Swiss coat of arms, signifying the Guards' homeland. Mark Twain famously described the Lion Monument as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world."
Although the main image is of the lion, those with sharp eyes can actually see two animals. After a dispute over the payment, the sculptor decided to leave an extra image behind. The outline of the cave is actually a shape of a pig! A few of us had a hard time seeing it so we had Miss Agar mark up this image to help you see. The snout is to the left, the triangle is the ear, and the tail is at the end.
Time for some group bus photos!
Bus 1
Bus 2
And of course some other photos!
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