In Bartholdi’s Footsteps

A Trip to Colmar, Alsace

In celebration of the Musée d’Orsay’s fall exhibition, Auguste Bartholdi. Liberty Enlightening the World, AFMO patrons are invited to embark on a unique adventure to Auguste Bartholdi’s hometown in Colmar, Alsace from Sunday, October 25th to Wednesday, October 28th 2026.

An Alsacian Sculptor

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was born in Colmar on August 2nd, 1834. Most renowned for the Statue of Liberty in New York, Bartholdi was a versatile artist and created numerous monuments such as the Lion of Belfort and the Bruat Fountain. Though his family moved to Paris in 1843, they returned to Colmar and the family property at 30 rue des Marchands (now the Bartholdi Museum) during holidays, while their summers were spent in the countryside in a house on the banks of the Lauch River. Bartholdi remained deeply attached to Alsace, immortalizing his love for the region through his works.

The Statue of Liberty

In 1865, Édouard de Laboulaye proposed the idea of presenting a monumental gift from the people of France to the people of the United States. An ardent supporter of America, Laboulaye wished to commemorate the centennial of the Declaration of Independence as well as celebrate the close relationship between France and America. Bartholdi, who had attended and agreed with his proclamation soon began conceptualizing the colossal structure that would soon be known as Liberty Enlightening the World.

Bartholdi’s design encompassed much symbolism. The robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom. Her crown illustrating light with its spikes evoking sun rays extending out to the world. The tablet, inscribed with July 4, 1776 in Roman numerals, noting American independence. Broken shackles and chains at the Statue’s foot, symbolizing the end of slavery. Bartholdi created a peaceful yet powerful image of the shared values of the two republics on either side of the Atlantic, in a western world that was almost entirely ruled by monarchs.

A symbol of freedom, inspiration, and hope, the Statue of Liberty was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States and remains today a universal symbol of freedom and democracy.

Auguste Bartholdi. Liberty Enlightening the World

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Unites States’ Declaration of Independence, the Musée d’Orsay is presenting an exhibition devoted to the work of Auguste Bartholdi. The exhibition will look back at the Alsacian sculptor’s career, whose monumental ambition asserted itself in his earliest projects and was further nurtured by the political upheavals of his day. It will explore the birth of the Statue of Liberty, highlighting how the stages of its construction are perfect illustrations of the union of art and engineering.

Cultural Highlights

Colmar

A town worthy of fairy tales, a stroll through Colmar will lead you down cobbled streets, bordered by peaceful canals and historic pastel colored houses.

Strasbourg, Petite-France

Petite-France is Strasbourg’s most picturesque neighbourhood, known for its cobblestones pretty half-timbered houses, beautifully decorated bars and restaurants and the sparkling water of the River Ill.

Wine Country

The Alsace Wine Route winds along 170 kilometres from the north to the south of the region, between the plain and the Vosges Mountains. No less than 70 villages are nestled amongst the vines, each more charming than the last.

Struthof-Nazweiler

In September 1940, in annexed Alsace, close to the village of Natzwiller, the Nazis discovered a vein of pink granite. In March 1941, Himmler, head of the SS, ordered that a concentration camp be built to exploit the granite for the major construction projects of the Reich. On 1st May 1941, at the place known as “Struthof”, Konzentrationslager Natzweiler was officially opened. It would be the only one in France.

Mont Sainte-Odile

A centre of pilgrimage dedicated to St Odile, the patron saint of Alsace, this convent is one of the region’s unmissable sites. Standing at the top of a hill, the convent boasts extraordinary panoramic views of the Alsatian plain.

Château du Haut-Koenisbourg

Built in the 12th century, Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle has for centuries witnessed conflicts and rivalries between lords, kings, and emperors. To visit this castle is to time travel through 900 years of history.

Bibliothèque Humaniste de Sélestat

The Humanist Library in Sélestat is one of Alsace’s most important cultural treasures. Its collection spans from medieval manuscripts to rare printed works 15th and 16th century, in a magnificent architectural setting created by Rudy Ricciotti.

AFMO patrons are invited to embark on a unique adventure to Auguste Bartholdi’s hometown in Colmar, Alsace. The trip will feature a specially curated itinerary, allowing patrons to explore the region in which the man who designed the Statue of Liberty grew up.