In the heart of historic downtown LaGrange sits the iconic square and fountain named after American Revolutionary War hero, French aristocrat, and military officer, Marquis de Lafayette. The beautiful circular fountain is a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike to relax, stroll, and enjoy the scenery of downtown LaGrange.
A Tale of Two Cities & A Shared Hero
The bronze statue of General Lafayette rising from the fountain is a symbolic bridge of friendship between LaGrange, Georgia, and Le Puy-en-Velay, France.
How LaGrange Got Its Name
In 1825, during Lafayette’s celebrated “Farewell Tour” of the United States, he traveled through Western Georgia. Looking out over the rolling hills of the Chattahoochee River Valley, he remarked that the landscape deeply reminded him of La Grange (meaning “The Barn”), his beloved wife’s family estate near Paris. The name stuck. When the county seat was formed in 1828, it was proudly named LaGrange in his honor.
The Original Statue: Saved by the French Resistance
The original 1883 bronze statue, sculpted by French artist Ernest-Eugène Hiolle, stands in Le Puy-en-Velay, France, near Lafayette’s birthplace. During the German occupation of France in 1943, Nazi forces slated the statue to be melted down for its bronze. In a daring midnight mission, French Resistance fighters and a brave city employee secretly smuggled the statue off its pedestal and hid it in a nearby sheepfold. It remained hidden safely in the dark for the rest of the war, returning to its rightful spot in 1945 amid a massive liberation parade.
Bringing the Replica to Georgia
To honor the city’s unique name connection ahead of the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial, the Callaway Foundation and LaGrange College jointly commissioned an exact, full-sized replica of the French monument.
- The Craftsmanship: Permission was granted by the City Council of Le Puy. The casting was completed in 1974 in Camaiore, Italy, by American sculptor Harry Jackson at his Wyoming Foundry Studies.
- The Dedication: Formally installed in February 1975, the statue was officially dedicated on February 22, 1976. The mayor of Le Puy-en-Velay even traveled to LaGrange to attend the ceremony, cementing an international bond of friendship. The statue is owned by LaGrange College and is on permanent loan to the city.
Fast Facts: The Statues Compared
| Feature | Le Puy-en-Velay (The Original) | LaGrange, GA (The Replica) |
| Origin Year | 1883 | 1974 (Cast in Italy) |
| Sculptor | Ernest-Eugène Hiolle | Exact copy cast by Harry Jackson |
| Location | Place du Breuil | LaFayette Square |
| Shared Pose | Lafayette holds a tricorn hat and sword hilt. | Same as the original. |
Insider Tip: Take a close look at Lafayette’s right hand. He is raising the “Cocarde of Liberty”—a historic symbol of freedom! On sunny days, grab a coffee from a local spot nearby and enjoy the deep shade around this idyllic town square.
Permission to cast the statue was granted by May Celestin Quincieu and the City Council of Le Puy. It is the property of LaGrange College, on permanent loan to the city of LaGrange.
