This statue of Joan of Arc will travel a few meters in the Oise, here's why

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It has been there for so long that it is almost part of the furniture now for these residents. “I pass by it every day and yet, I don’t even notice it anymore,” underlines Corinne, from Compiégnoise, about the equestrian statue of Joan of Arc, place du 54e RInear the train station Compiègne (Oise). The monument, which has proudly stood in town since 1960, will soon be moved.

In any case, this is what the elected officials of the Agglomeration of the Compiègne regionwho consider it “not very visible, drowned in too abundant vegetation”. Spears placed all around the statue also hide it from the view of passers-by.

Cost of the operation: 120,000 euros

Figurehead of this squarethe monument will be pampered by craftsmen. The patina of this statue will also be taken over in the workshop by specialized companies. A hydro-exfoliation should then be applied to restore its luster.

A 120,000 euro operation which is part of the redevelopment of the station district. A project which started last summer and which has already made good progress.

“It is a replica of the one made by Emmanuel Frémiet at Place des Pyramides in Paris,” confides Philippe Marini, the mayor of the imperial city, to Oise news.

Once removed from its base, the statue will be moved next spring to the exit of the Louis XV bridge.

The signal it represents will thus be much more visible, whether when arriving in Compiègne or when you are traveling towards the station, via rue de Beauvais or rue de Clermont.

Moved to the outlet of the Louis XV bridge

The statue will head south to improve its visibility. An idea which was suggested to Philippe Marini by Bernard Hellal, his counterpart from Margny-lès-Compiègne, during a lunch.

“It is both an embellishment, a historical symbol and a functional development of the station area,” summarizes Philippe Marini. “We will take advantage of this to restore to the statue the pole of his banner, which had been broken »he adds.

For the chosen one, this statue has a symbolic value. “Especially since Joan of Arc had been taken prisoner on the right bank of the Oise,” recalls this history buff.

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