Lion of Belfort

thingiverse

The Lion of Belfort stands proudly against the cliff, situated beneath the castle that dominates the French landscape. It embodies the unyielding spirit of the French army, which bravely resisted the Prussian forces during the tumultuous French-Prussian War (1870-71). This heroic siege was immortalized in a monumental statue crafted by Auguste Bartholdi, a local artist from Colmar who later gained international acclaim for designing the iconic Statue of Liberty in New York. Bartholdi's masterpiece personifies the lion, describing it as "a colossal beast, driven back and yet still terrifying in its fury." Interestingly, no one was initially willing to model the lion, so it was left to Bartholdi himself, who proudly declared his connection to Belfort. Today, this magnificent sculpture can be scaled up or down to suit any desired size and printed with support, allowing enthusiasts to marvel at its grandeur in exquisite detail.