Lion Monument
Lucerne, Switzerland
The Lion Monument occupies a rocky recess above a pond, creating a surprisingly contemplative stop within the city. Designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and inaugurated in 1821, it commemorates the Swiss Guards killed during the storming of the Tuileries in Paris in 1792. The surrounding interpretation panels explain the monument’s history and meanings. Give it time beyond a quick photograph, reading the context before sitting back to take in the setting and the expression carved into the stone.