Lyon: barely restored, the Louis XIV statue vandalized on Bellecour square

Made in 1825 by the Lyonnais sculptor François-Frédéric Lemot, this majestic statue has been classified as a "historical monument" since 2016. It has just made its return to Bellecour square after undergoing a unique restoration, carried out on-site and estimated at around 1.4 million euros. A significant investment to restore all its splendor to this symbol of Lyon. Louis XIV was vandalized shortly after his return But alas, it did not take long for vandals to strike. At 6 pm on Thursday, an inscription "Free Gaza" already adorned one side of the pedestal. This graffiti, visible in broad daylight, immediately caught the attention of passersby and local authorities. Subsequently, "Free Rafah" was tagged on one side of the marble pedestal in response to the bombings that took place in Rafah last weekend. A Palestinian flag was also tagged and stickers were placed.It's all about love.

Je condamne fermement les tags sur la statue de Louis XIV symbole de notre belle ville de Lyon remise en place et inaugurée il y a quelques jours et déjà souillée par des activistes . ⁦@Gregorydoucet⁩ un mot peut être ? #lyon #bellecour ⁦@lyonmag⁩ ⁦@BFMLyon⁩ pic.twitter.com/WWfzVBiBq3
— Jean-Stéphane Chaillet (@JsChaillet) June 1, 2024

Facing this act of vandalism, Mohamed Chihi, deputy in charge of security and public tranquility, quickly reacted. The City of Lyon indicated to Le Progrès that immediate measures would be taken to clean the inscription. A degradation that reminds us of the importance of respecting our heritage. The statue of Louis XIV, an iconic monument of Lyon, deserves to be protected and admired in all its splendor. Let's hope that this incident will inspire greater vigilance and reinforced protection of our cultural treasures.