Swedish Lion statue
The Swedish Lion statue is one of the most famous Narva attractions. It is also one of the unofficial symbols of the city. The lion stands on a pedestal and looks around the surroundings as if guarding the approach to Narva Herman’s castle.
History of the Swedish Lion statue
The statue of the Swedish lion was erected in Narva in 1936. The sculpture was made in Sweden and was an exact copy of the monument standing in front of the Royal Palace in Stockholm. It was erected to commemorate the victory of the Swedish army in 1700 as a result of which Peter the Great’s army was forced to retreat from the city.
The statue was originally erected on the field in the western part of Narva, where the decisive battle took place. The author of the monument was the famous Swedish architect Ragnar Östberg, who also designed the Stockholm City Hall. Swedish Prince Gustav Adolf took part in the opening ceremony of the monument.
During the fierce battles of World War II for Narva, the monument was destroyed under artillery fire. The Germans justified a bunker under the monument, thereby making it a convenient target. After the end of the war, the sculpture was not restored.
The opening of the renovated monument took place on November 18, 2000. The author of the new sculpture is the architect Vladimir Orlov. The bronze sculpture of a lion is set on a granite pedestal, and the total height of the monument is seven meters. The pedestal is carved with the Roman numerals MDCC, meaning the year 1700, as well as the inscription “Suecia memor”, which means “Sweden remembers”. There is a flower bed in front of the monument.
Photo gallery
What does the monument symbolize?
Today, the Swedish Lion stands in a park located not far from the Narva Castle. The monument was restored on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the memorable battle and today it has acquired a different meaning. According to the current interpretation, the lion symbolizes friendship and openness to cooperation between modern Estonia and Sweden.
Location on the Map
Other Points of Interest
- Among other attractions, we would like to invite your attention to the Narva Town Hall. Today it is home to the Tourist Information Center, where you can take a virtual tour of the Old Town, which has not been preserved.
- The Memento Mori monument is important to Estonians. It is dedicated to the memory of those deported to Siberia during Stalin’s time.
- A beautiful interesting photo can be taken near the monument to Paul Keres, the Estonian chess player. You can play an imaginary game of chess with him.