There are a few replicas of the Statue of Liberty across Paris: Île aux Cygnes, Luxembourg Garden, Orsay Museum… These are easy to spot and in plain sight. But there is another Statue of Liberty hidden in Paris.
Only a few people know of its existence. In fact, it consists of a very small replica situated on a square in the 6th arrondissement.
Where to find the Statue of Liberty hidden in Paris?
Head to the square of Carrefour de la Croix-Rouge.
See the statue representing a centaur?
Le Centaure is a 5-metre-tall bronze statue created by French sculptor César (1921-1998).
Taking centre stage on the Carrefour de la Croix-Rouge (or Place Michel-Debré) in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, it represents a centaur. This mythological creature consists of a human’s upper body and a horse’s lower body.
In fact, the head of the sculpture is a self-portrait of its author, French sculptor César.
Only a few people know about the existence of a very small replica of the Statue of Liberty hidden in plain sight on the statue’s chest. About the size of an adult’s hand, the tiny Statue of Liberty is visible from the front of the centaur.
A bit closer through my camera lens:
And then it appears in full sight!
Other replicas of the Statue of Liberty
There is another replica of the Statue of Liberty in the 6th arrondissement where the statue is in plain sight.
You’ll find it in the Luxembourg Garden.
You’ll discover the full-size replica of the torch in Place d’Alma. The “Flame of Liberty” monument has become over the years an unofficial shrine to Lady Diana.
The princess died in the tunnel just under it.
And, of course, you’ll find the largest replica of Lady Liberty in the île aux Cygnes, South of the Eiffel Tower:
About French sculptor César
César was born in Marseille as César Baldaccini (1921–1998).
He is a noted French sculptor of the Nouveau Réalisme movement.
Some of his most famous works include compacted automobiles, discarded metal or rubbish and fantastic representations of animals and insects.
How to get there
- Location of the statue Le Centaure (link opens a google map).
- Closest métro stations: Saint-Sulpice (line 4) and Sèvres-Babylone (lines 10, 12).
Thank you for the detailed information about the various Statues of Liberty in Paris, including the tiny one in the Centaur. But isn’t there another one in the courtyard in front of the Museum Arts et Metiers (on the corner of Reaumur and Vaucanson)? Or have they moved that one? I think I recently saw it on a street view on Google Maps.
Again, thanks for all the great info.
Ziggy
Bonjour Ziggy! Thank you for your comment. Yes you’re right, the Musée des arts et métiers does have a replica of the Statue of Liberty in the forecourt! And I also stumbled upon another one at Musée d’Orsay! 🙂
Thank you for the detailed information about the various Statues of Liberty in Paris.
You’re welcome!