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All Slovakia Bratislava Napoleon's Army Soldier
AO Edited

Napoleon's Army Soldier

An ode to a soldier who came to town, fell in love, then began making his own sparkling wine.

Bratislava, Slovakia

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katielou106
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Napoleon’s Army Soldier.   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Napoleon’s Army Soldier.   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Hlavne namestie where the bench is located.   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Bratislava is chock full of quirky statues, many of which don't depict the usual historical or famous figures. Napoleon's Army Soldier is one of these more playful sculptures. 

The statue was made by Juraj Melis and commemorates two occasions when Napoleon's army entered the city. The statue was produced as the local town government wanted to create interesting features that would move the town away from its austere appearance.

Napoleon and his army came to Bratislava in December 1805, when 9,000 infantry soldiers and 300 horsemen marched through the streets. While passing through the town, one of the soldiers is said to have fallen in love with a local girl. He decided to stay in Bratislava and began making sparkling wine which he named after himself, Hubert. 

The sculpture stands bent over one of the park benches lining the Old Town square.

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Military History Statues History & Culture

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Napoleon's Army Soldier can be found in Hlavne namestie in the Old Town.

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Added By

katielou106

Edited By

Fred Cherrygarden, dgmwdzrd9j

  • Fred Cherrygarden
  • dgmwdzrd9j

Published

September 8, 2022

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Napoleon's Army Soldier
358/7 Hlavné námestie
Bratislava, 811 01
Slovakia
48.14346, 17.107979
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