Statue of Louis XIV, Montpellier

The equestrian statue of Louis XIV in Montpellier is a prominent monument in the heart of the Promenade du Peyrou. Erected in 1828, this bronze statue is a tribute to King Louis XIV, replacing an earlier version destroyed during the French Revolution. Sculpted by Jean Baptiste Joseph De Bay and cast by Auguste-Jean-Marie Carbonneaux, it was designed based on the vision of Jules Hardouin-Mansart. The statue is positioned on a marble pedestal, marking the highest point in Montpellier, and carries a Latin inscription that reads: “The States of Languedoc dedicated this monument to Louis the Great in his lifetime and have erected it after he died in 1718.”

Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, ruled France from 1643 until he died in 1715, making his reign one of the longest in European history. The original statue, crafted by Pierre Mazeline de Rouen and Simon Hurtrelle de Béthune in 1692, was transported from Paris and unveiled in 1718. However, it was dismantled during the Revolution in 1792 and replaced by the guillotine. The current statue, half the size of the original, was transported from Paris to Montpellier in just 25 days and was unveiled in 1838.

Classified as a historical monument in 1954, this statue, alongside the site itself (classified in 1943), is one of the earliest representations of Louis XIV, following those on Victory Square (Place des Victoires) in Paris and Parade Ground (Place d'Armes) in Versailles. The statue’s positioning and design echo classical themes, with Louis XIV depicted in a style reminiscent of Marcus Aurelius, exuding regal authority and grandeur.