Thionville – Altar to the Homeland
[I originally posted this in May 2018, but have reposted it now to fix the broken image link. And, whilst I’m here, I can add to what I wrote at the time]
The Altar to the Homeland in Thionville was constructed on 22 September 1796, during the fervour of the French Revolution. There were many of these altars erected during the Revolution, but they were usually built of wood and many were lost under Napoleon’s rule, with this being the last stone one left in the country. It was intended initially to be a focal point for patriotic gatherings, with this one later being relocated to a cemetery and repurposed as a war memorial before being brought back here].
Apparently this is the only one of the 36,000 ‘Altars to the Homeland’ which still stand in France. Which sounds a little unusual and I haven’t yet ascertained as to why just this one exists. But it’s very lovely and the town is apparently very proud of it.