Carved out of a giant wall of sandstone, the Lion Monument is essentially a dying lion that serves as a memorial for the Swiss guards who sacrificed their lives during the French Revolution of the 18th century. Designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and Lucas Ahorn, this heart-wrenching structure was inaugurated in the year 1821 and, while the plot was initially a private property, it was taken over by the city in 1882. The Latin inscription on the wall reads “Helvetiorum Fidei Ac Virtuti” and translates into “To the loyalty and courage of the Swiss people”. The names of the martyred and surviving officers are also engraved on this wall and the sight will certainly leave a lump in your throat.

Revered by locals, you can feel the sadness and pain emanating from the lion’s visage despite the fact that it is inanimate. The mighty beast can also be seen covering a shield that holds the Flower of the Lily (Fleur-de-lis), an emblem of the French monarchy and an illustration of the incomparable sacrifice of the soldiers. Commissioned by Carl Pfyffer von Altishofen, the Lion Monument has been described by Mark Twain as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world” and no trip to Lucerne is complete without visiting this solemn sight.