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Origin and history

Tadeusz Kościuszko Memorial is a cenotaph located in Montigny-sur-Loeng, on the edge of the Fontainebleau Forest. Founded in 1836 on the initiative of Frantz Zeltner, son of Swiss ambassador Peter Zeltner, who hosted Kościuszko, it symbolizes Franco-Polish friendship. This first terre, inspired by that of Krakow, was destroyed at the end of the 19th century because of its degradation. A commemorative plaque was placed there in 1917, marking the centenary of the General's death.

The present monument, rebuilt in 1924 by architect Fernand Lucas and sculptor Leplat, takes the form of a chapel with bronze medallion. It houses a vaulted crypt today collapsed, buried under a tumulus. Inaugurated in the presence of the Polish colony in Paris, he celebrated the role of Kościuszko, a Polish general and hero of American independence, who lived almost 15 years in La Genevraye (1801-1815) and protected the villages from Russian looting.

Kościuszko, named "Citizen of Honour of the French Republic" in 1792, introduced into the region the breeding of merino sheep and the poplars of Italy. His legacy is honoured by annual ceremonies, such as in 1967 (restauration for the 150th anniversary of his death) or in 2018-2019 (sheaves deposit). The site, a private property, has been listed as historical monuments since 1993, including tumulus and adjacent parcels.

The monument is part of a historical context marked by the struggles for Polish independence. In 1837, his inauguration attracted 10,000 people, raising diplomatic fears: the Russian ambassador, fearing an uprising, obtained the ban on celebrations by Louis-Philippe I. Today, there remains a French-Polish place of memory, reflecting the links between the two nations.

Architecturally, the monument consists of an entrance door overhanging the medallion of Kościuszko, inspired by a work by David of Angers. The crypt, accessible by stairs, is protected by a fence. The tumulus, a central element, recalls Polish funeral traditions. The site, located along the departmental road 148, is a stop point for visitors to the forest of Fontainebleau.

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