Monument of Remembrance, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

The Monument of Remembrance, usually known by the nickname of the Gëlle Fra (Luxembourgish for 'Golden Lady'), is a war memorial dedicated to the thousands of Luxembourgers who volunteered for service in the armed forces of the Allied Powers during World War I.

The centrepiece of the monument is a 21 metre-tall granite obelisk. Atop of the obelisk stands a gilded bronze statue of a lady, holding out a laurel wreath as if placing it upon the head of the nation. At the foot of the obelisk are two (ungilded) bronze figures, representing those Luxembourgish soldiers that volunteered to serve for France; one lies at the base of the statue, having died in service of his country, whilst the other sits, mourning his dead compatriot.

The sculptor of the three bronze figures was Claus Cito, a native Luxembourger. The model for the Gëlle Fra is unknown. The monument was opened in 1923.

During the First World War, Luxembourg pledged itself to neutrality, but was occupied by Germany, which justified its actions by citing military necessity. However, most Luxembourgers did not believe Germany's good intentions, fearing that Germany would annex their country in the event of a German victory; these claims were substantiated by Bethmann Hollweg's Septemberprogramm.

When Luxembourg was occupied by Nazi forces in World War II, the Germans dismantled the memorial on the 21st October 1940. Several portions of the memorial were rescued, and after the war, the monument was partially restored. The Gëlle Fra herself however remained unaccounted for until January 1980 when she was found hidden beneath the main stand of the national football stadium. Later additions were made to honor Luxembourger forces who had served in World War II and the Korean War.

The monument was not fully reconstructed and restored to its original design until 1984 and then finally unveiled to the public in the presence of Grand Duke Jean on the 23rd June 1985, Luxembourg's national holiday.

References:

Wikipedia

Statues in Luxembourg

User Reviews

Charles Schumacher (15 months ago)
Great Christmas market in the winter, and great place to capture photos of Luxembourg! The cathedral is very close by, and plenty of shopping as well. Pro tip: park at a garage further away and catch the T1 tram line to the stop closest to here…I promise you won’t regret it as parking is very difficult in this area!

Tonya (2 years ago)
After a photo op at the monument, I went to Christmas market right next to it. Tasty sweets, hot wine, food, fair rides, and vendors selling their wares. It was a really cozy atmosphere. I picked up some Christmas gifts for family and snuggly soft socks for myself of course, cause I love me some me! ?

Rajib Dakua (2 years ago)
Picture speaks everything !!! It’s a beautiful place & surroundings !!! ?

Avina Kalle (2 years ago)
War memorial with a view point from which you can see the main fort and the surrounding gardens.

manish temani (2 years ago)
This is a war memorial. Known as monument of rememberance (also called Gella Fra). This is a famous torurist spot and offers great overlooking views of the city. Not much crowded and 5-10 mins walk from the central station. The monument itself is magnificent. Worth a short stop over if you are passing by.

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