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Travelling abroad has always been overwhelming for me, even after three international trips in the last 12 months. It’s uncommon for many people to visit the US as their first international destination, but that was the case for me.
When I attended KubeCon Chicago in November 2023, I planned a mini vacation to explore the USA. That’s when I saw the beautiful Statue of Liberty in New York. I dedicated half a day to travelling to Ellis Island and seeing the New York skyline from the top. You can read more about my Statue of Liberty experience.
A few months later, I spoke at KubeCon Paris, my dream destination since I started learning French in my boarding school. Like everyone, the Eiffel Tower was on my list, and I was in awe when I first saw it. Thereafter, I visited many other places of interest, like the Roland Garros Stadium, the Palace of Versailles, and the Louvre Museum, to name a few.
But one interesting thing that I wanted to do was see the Statue of Liberty in Paris. Yes, there are 5 of them in the City of Lights! In this post, I’ll tell you all about it.
What is the Statue of Liberty doing in Paris?
We all know that the Statue of Liberty in the USA is actually born in France and raised in the USA 😉 The original one was a gift from France to America, dreamed up by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and engineered by Gustave Eiffel (yes, the tower guy!).
Interestingly, Bartholdi created several miniatures as tests before building and shipping the original Statue as tests, placed at different places in the city. Think of these as rough drafts of the original one, built before the big sister.
There are 5 Statue of Liberty statues in Paris. While 4 of these were installed and built by Bartholdi and the team, one was gifted to France by the Americans residing in France 3 years after the original one was installed in Ellis Island. And this one is placed at an iconic location giving you the best photo op!
Where to find the Statue of Liberty in Paris?
Let me tell you that if you’re planning your Paris trip with a tour operator, trust me, this is not going to be on the itinerary. So you’ll have to go out of your way to visit these but trust me, it’ll be worth it. As a local, do get a Paris Metro Card to explore on a budget.
Below is the list of 5 Statue of Liberty in Paris:
- Île aux Cygnes (Swan Island) – The most photographed replica stands proud at 37.5 feet on the western tip of this artificial island. The statue offers a perfect shot with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Take Metro line 6 to Bir-Hakeim station or RER C to Charles Michel. Google Map.
- Luxembourg Gardens (6th arrondissement) – You’ll spot Bartholdi’s bronze model hidden among the garden’s lush greenery. Take Metro line 4 or 10 to Odéon station and stroll through this beautiful park to find it. Google Map.
- Musée des Arts et Métiers (3rd arrondissement) – Home to the original plaster model used by Bartholdi. You can reach it via Arts et Métiers station on Metro lines 3 and 11. It’s perfect for history buffs! Google Map.
- Musée d’Orsay (7th arrondissement) – Houses an elegant bronze model in its impressive collection. Get there via Musée d’Orsay station (RER C) or Solférino station (Metro line 12). Google Map.
- Place Michel-Debré (6th arrondissement) – A petite but charming replica graces this square. Take Metro line 4 to Saint-Germain-des-Prés station for a short walk.
Of all these locations, the Swan Island statue stole my heart. There’s something magical about seeing Lady Liberty with the Eiffel Tower behind her—it’s like capturing the city’s two most iconic symbols in one frame. Plus, the peaceful riverside location, away from the usual tourist crowds, lets you take your time setting up that perfect shot.
After a delicious breakfast at Carette (their croissants are amazing, more about it coming later), I started my walk to Swan Island. With a full stomach and my camera ready, I wandered through Trocadéro Gardens where everyone was busy taking their Eiffel Tower photos. But I was on a different mission.
I walked down to the Seine and followed the riverside path, crossing over the beautiful Bir-Hakeim bridge – you know, the one from the movie “Inception”? The morning was perfect, with boats starting their tours on the river and the smell of fresh bread floating from nearby bakeries. When I reached Île aux Cygnes (Swan Island), it felt so peaceful walking down its tree-lined path, away from the usual Paris buzz.
Then I got the moment to click the perfect picture of both iconic monuments in the same frame! PS: I didn’t have my S24 Ultra back then and my Samsung S20 FE 5G didn’t have the zoom capability to get a better picture.
Add It To Your Paris Itinerary
While most visitors flock to the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre, tracking down these Statue of Liberty replicas took me on a delightful journey through different corners of the city.
If you plan a trip to Paris, I recommend adding the Île aux Cygnes statue to your itinerary. Time your visit for sunset, grab a baguette and some cheese from a local shop and enjoy a picnic by the Seine while Lady Liberty glows in the golden hour light.
So, detour from the usual tourist path next time you’re here. After all, how many people can say they’ve seen the Statue of Liberty with the Eiffel Tower in the background?
Feel free to reach out to me for any assistance. Drop your thoughts in the comments below, tweet to me at @Atulmaharaj, DM on Atulmaharaj on Instagram, or Get In Touch.
