The Lion Monument is far more than a beautiful carving — it is a memorial.

The dying lion stands for the courage and loyalty of the Swiss Guards who lost their lives in 1792. The shield beneath its paw bears the French fleur-de-lis, a reminder of who they died defending.

Mark Twain called it "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world" — and standing in front of it, many visitors understand exactly why.