Why go
The contrast between the monument’s original purpose and its later public meaning is the reason to stop. A replica associated with New York’s Statue of Liberty became a place for flowers, photographs and messages after Diana’s death nearby. Read the dedication as well as looking at the tributes to understand both associations.
What to look for
- A gilded copper flame rests on a gray-and-black marble pedestal.
- The dedication on the base identifies the Franco-American gift.
The full story
The flame was given to Paris in 1989 through the International Herald Tribune and donors around the world. It marked the newspaper’s centenary celebrations and thanked French craftspeople for their work restoring the Statue of Liberty in 1986. Métalliers Champenois worked on the metal, while Gohard Studios applied gold leaf. The replica continued the exchange symbolized by France’s original gift of the statue to the United States. Its location near Pont de l’Alma later gave it an unforeseen role. Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a car crash in the nearby tunnel on 31 August 1997. People adopted the flame as an unofficial memorial, leaving tributes around it. The sculpture was therefore not created for Diana, even though that association now shapes many visits. Its inscription preserves the earlier story of friendship and restoration alongside the public act of remembrance.
Useful to know
- Combine the monument with Pont de l’Alma and its Zouave statue.
Your next visit
Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.
Outdoor visit · 30–45 min
World planning estimate; admission, opening, visit duration and access need checking.