Sisters of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is a New York icon known around the world. She stands as a shining beacon on Liberty Island, offering the hope of sanctuary to the tired, poor ‘huddled masses’. For decades, she was the first concrete sight of the American dream for millions of immigrants entering the United States. In fact, her real name is ‘La Liberté éclairant le monde’ – ‘Liberty Enlightening the World’.

Liberty in Paris

But did you know that she has a European sister? It’s true! She can be found in the middle of the Seine in the heart of Paris. While the original statue was a gift from France to the United States in 1886 to honour the American achievements of abolishing slavery and of the Union winning the Civil War, her smaller sister was a gift from the U.S. to France. She was gifted three years later to honour the historically close bond between the two countries and to reaffirm the ideals that both were striving to uphold. For France, these remain their national motto today: liberté, égalité, fraternité – liberty, equality, fraternity.

This younger sister stands on the tiny Île aux Cygnes – Swan Island – at Pont de Grenelle, directly across from the new Le Cordon Bleu , looking west, towards her older sibling. And I was thrilled to get an up close view one sunny, September morning as I rowed passed her with 1,200 other rowers. You can read all about that amazing adventure in my post A Row Through Paris: La Traversée de Paris en Aviron. But I digress.

This is not the only image of Liberty that you will find in the City of Light. A bronze replica of a model of sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi’s design can be found in Jardin du Luxembourg – Luxembourg Garden. And the original of this model now stands at the entrance of la Musée D’Orsay. I love seeing her here, untouched by weather, looking as she did when first created.

The Flame

As well, a full-sized replica of the ‘Flame of Liberty’ stands at the northern end of Pont de l’Alma, on the Place de l’Alma. This gold-leaf covered monument has become synonymous with Lady Diana as it stands directly above the tunnel on Avenue de New York where her fatal accident took place. While many think that the flame was built as a monument to Lady Di, it predates her death by eight years. The ‘Flame’ was actually a token of appreciation for the restoration work two French companies performed on the New York statue several years earlier.

So, as Gustave Eiffel‘s copper Lady Liberty continues to stand as a symbol of friendship, tolerance and freedom in New York Harbour, I like knowing that her sister does the same in the heart of Paris.

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