Flame of Liberty — Attraction in Paris

After leaving the Adam Mickiewicz Monument, my wife and I continued along the tree-lined Cours de la Reine, walking at a relaxed pace while enjoying the soft golden light of the late afternoon. Our next stop was something I had long wanted to see, a flame not born of fire, but of tribute and symbolism: the Flame of Liberty.

To reach it, we crossed the Pont de l’Alma, a bridge connecting the left and right banks of the Seine. The intersection here, Place de l’Alma, is a hub where several major avenues converge, including the prestigious Avenue Montaigne and the scenic Avenue de New York. The area bustled with life as vehicles zipped past, tour groups paused for orientation, and locals hurried by with purpose. The walk over the bridge offered some wonderful views of the river and the Eiffel Tower in the near distance, a photo opportunity we didn’t pass up.

The monument itself stands just beyond the bridge, poised on a small plaza renamed Place Diana in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales. The Flame of Liberty is a full-scale replica of the flame atop the Statue of Liberty’s torch, an unmistakable gilded copper sculpture about 3.5 metres tall, its warm gold tones catching the Parisian light in beautiful ways. It rests upon a marble base, and its flame seems to flicker even in stillness.

Though originally gifted by the International Herald Tribune in 1989 to symbolise the friendship between France and the United States, the monument has taken on a second identity in the public consciousness. Since the tragic passing of Princess Diana, who died in the tunnel beneath this very location in 1997, the Flame has become an unofficial memorial. Around the base, visitors have left heartfelt notes, photographs, and fresh flowers, an ever-changing mosaic of remembrance. There’s something quietly moving about it; you sense how this place speaks differently to everyone who visits.

It’s worth noting that this spot can become quite crowded during peak hours, particularly due to its popularity as both a Diana memorial and an Eiffel Tower viewpoint. That said, early mornings or later in the evening provide a more contemplative experience, and at night, the monument is beautifully illuminated, adding an extra layer of elegance.

For those considering a visit, the monument is easily accessible. Alma-Marceau Metro Station on Line 9 is just steps away, and RER Line C stops nearby at Pont de l’Alma. Bus routes including 42, 63, 72, 80, and 92 also pass close to the area. Despite being located on a busy intersection, the small square where the Flame sits is paved and accessible for those with mobility needs, although crossing the streets requires attention due to heavy traffic.

There are no public restrooms immediately at the site, but cafés and restaurants along Avenue de New York or Avenue Montaigne offer facilities, often with a small purchase. The area is also pet-friendly; we spotted several dogs being walked near the monument, all on leads as expected in central Paris.

The Flame of Liberty is a rare blend of artistic symbolism and emotional gravity, part sculpture, part shrine, part Parisian curiosity. It’s not a place that asks for hours of your time, but it does invite quiet reflection. Whether you’re here to admire the craftsmanship, to honour Diana’s memory, or to simply enjoy the view, it’s a stop that lingers in your thoughts long after...

The Flame of Liberty (Flamme de la Liberté) in Paris is a full-sized, gold-leaf-covered replica of the new flame at the upper end of the torch carried in the hand of the Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World) at the entrance to the harbor of New York City since 1886.[1] The monument, which measures approximately 3.5 metres in height, is a sculpture of a flame, executed in gilded copper, supported by a pedestal of gray-and-black marble. It is located near the northern end of the Pont de l'Alma, on the Place de l'Alma, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.[2]

It was offered to the city of Paris in 1989 by the International Herald Tribune on behalf of donors who had contributed approximately $400,000 for its fabrication. It represented the culmination of that newspaper's 1987 celebration of its hundredth anniversary of publishing an English-language daily newspaper in Paris. More importantly, the Flame was a token of thanks for the restoration work on the Statue of Liberty accomplished three years earlier by two French businesses that did artisanal work on the project: namely, Métalliers Champenois, which did the bronze work, and the Gohard Studios, which applied the gold leaf. While the gift to France was prompted by the centennial of the newspaper, the Flame of Liberty, more broadly, is a lasting symbol of the friendship uniting the two countries, just as the statue itself was, when it was given to the United States by France.

This project was overseen by the director of the French craft unions at that time, Jacques Graindorge. He foresaw an installation of the Flame of Liberty in a public square called Place des États-Unis (United States Place) in the 16th arrondissement, but the mayor of Paris at the time, Jacques Chirac, was opposed to it. After a protracted period of negotiations, it was decided that the Flame would be placed in an open area near the intersection of l'Avenue de New-York (New York Avenue) and the Place de l'Alma. The monument was dedicated on May 10, 1989 by...

Great picture spot for Eiffel Tower. Nice memorial for princess Diana Lady Diana’s Mercedes car left the rear entrance of the Ritz hotel (Place Vendôme) at around 12:20am on the 31st August 1997 heading to rue Arsène Houssaye. The car crossed the Place de la Concorde, drove along Cours la Reine and Cours Albert 1er into the tunnel that goes under Place de l’Alma (16th arrt) where it hit a pillar at approximately 12:23am. Diana was transferred to the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (13th arrt) just after 2am and died two hours later despite many resuscitation attempts. The funeral of Diana took place at Westminster Abbey, London on the 6th September. What do Princess Diana and the Flame of Liberty have in common? Here’s what I discovered. In the tunnel beneath Pont de l’Alma, Paris, Princess Diana died in 1997 in a car crash. Not far from this tunnel is Place de l’Alma where the Flame of Liberty is located. Ten years before the death of Princess Di, the International Herald Tribune gave France and the French people a symbol of friendship to celebrate the United States’ bicentenary. The gift is this lovely sculpture, located at Place de l’Alma. This full sized golden flame is a replica of the flame on the Statue of Liberty. Framed with the Eiffel Tower in the background, it is a beautiful pairing of our two countries, the United...