Duc de Richelieu Monument, Odessa (must see)

The Monument to Duc de Richelieu in Odessa marks a landmark moment in the city’s early years. Standing on the upper end of what many know as the Potemkin Stairs, the bronze statue was unveiled in 1828 and is credited as the first monument erected in the city.

The figure depicted is Armand Emmanuel de Vignerot du Plessis, 5th Duke of Richelieu, a French nobleman who arrived in the region in the early 19th century and served as governor of Odesa between 1803 and 1814. His tenure coincided with significant urban and commercial growth: new buildings, port facilities, and a trade‑friendly environment began to shape the city into a regional centre.

The statue itself presents the Duke dressed in Roman‑style drapery rather than contemporary attire, a choice intended to lend classical gravitas to his figure. It was sculpted by Ivan Martos and cast in bronze in Saint Petersburg. At the monument’s base, one can find relief panels and details referencing commerce, justice, and agriculture—elements central to the Duke’s vision for the city.

Visiting the monument offers both a photo‑worthy moment and a chance to reflect on Odessa’s transformation from a modest port settlement into a bustling civic centre in a relatively short period. Many locals still refer to the Duke affectionately as “our Duke”, an indicator of his enduring place in the city’s story. Given its prominent location and historical resonance, it’s worthwhile to pause here and consider the ways in which individuals, design, and commerce converged to shape the city you are walking through.

In passing by the statue, you also gain a sense of the layered history of the city’s development: political exile, imperial service, urban planning, trade expansion, and civic identity all converge in one figure and one setting. That layered story is part of the appeal for visitors keen to understand not just what the city looks like, but how it came to be.