He stands proud a limestone soldier. This is the Chasseur à pied statue. It wasn’t always here in the Bois de Vincennes. Originally it guarded the Pont de l’Alma a bridge built to celebrate France’s victory at the Battle of Alma in the Crimean War.
Napoleon III commissioned four statues. Each represented a different regiment. The Zouave the Grenadier the Chasseur à pied and the Artilleur. Auguste Arnaud a talented sculptor created this Chasseur à pied. He also sculpted the Artilleur. Both were unveiled in 1858 by Napoleon himself.
The Chasseur à pied stood on the Alma Bridge’s left bank. It was a symbol of the French infantry a testament to their bravery. But the Alma Bridge was eventually replaced. Too narrow and unstable it was deemed unsafe. The new bridge had only one pier. Only the Zouave statue remained.
Our Chasseur à pied found a new home. In 1973 it was moved to the Redoute de Gravelle a small fort in the Bois de Vincennes. It now overlooks the A4 motorway a striking contrast of past and present. This spot isn’t far from the Fort de Vincennes. This is where the first company of Chasseurs à pied was founded a fascinating historical connection.
Auguste Arnaud’s life was not without its challenges. While he created monumental works like this statue and the Artilleur for the Pont de l’Alma he also suffered setbacks. His statue Venus aux cheveux d’or despite being bought by Napoleon III was not a critical success. This contributed to his later mental decline. Sadly he died in a train accident in 1883.
So here we stand before the Chasseur à pied a silent witness to history. It’s more than just a statue. It’s a story of war victory relocation and the life of a talented but troubled artist. It connects us to the Crimean War to Napoleon III and to the quiet strength of French infantrymen. Remember this story as you walk away. Remember the Chasseur à pied.