The administrative court overturns the contract for this nine-ton artwork, sparking a heated controversy. The court orders its dismantling.
The administrative court of Nice has made its decision. The city must dismantle a monumental statue of Joan of Arc installed in the garden of a new underground parking lot, near the Church of Saint Joan of Arc. On Wednesday, the contract between Régie Parcs d’Azur and Atelier Missor was annulled for violating public procurement rules. The court found that the order, awarded without advertisement or competition, violated legal obligations.
The bronze artwork, gilded with gold leaf, measures 4.50 meters in height and weighs 9 tons. It was created for a sum of 170,000 euros excluding taxes and depicts Joan of Arc on horseback, sword raised.
Controversy and Appeals
Régie Parcs d’Azur has announced its intention to appeal, expressing surprise at this decision, given that a summary judgment by the same court had approved the order last February. However, since the appeal does not suspend the ruling, the city must execute the judgment without delay.
This decision also triggered a strong reaction from Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice. He accuses the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, Hugues Moutouh, of acting against the “figure of Joan of Arc”, which he considers emblematic of national unity. “We will not give up anything. Joan of Arc belongs to all French people”, he stated in a press release.
To save the statue, Christian Estrosi announced the launch of a public subscription. André Barthe, former cultural deputy, and Prince Joachim Murat support this initiative.
Towards an Uncertain Future for the Statue
If the dismantling is confirmed, the city of Nice will have to decide the fate of this artwork, already “appropriated by the citizens”, according to the mayor. The sums already paid will have to be reimbursed by Atelier Missor, in accordance with the judgment.
This legal saga highlights the tensions surrounding public commissions and the symbolic choices of local communities. It places the statue of Joan of Arc at the heart of a debate blending heritage, administrative rules, and local politics.
