The famous Apollo of Place Masséna will be receiving a cleanup starting in early June 2024.
In 1933, Jean Médecin, the city’s mayor, commissioned a fountain and a statue from Alfred Janniot, a French artist and sculptor. To beautify Place Masséna, the statue was unveiled to the public in 1956, right in the center of the square. The sculpture, which measures seven meters tall and weighs seven tons, has not always been at this famous location. It was moved from Place Masséna for more than 30 years due to mockery, to the Charles Ehrmann park.
In the 2000s, the association Les Amis de Janniot demanded the return of the statue to Place Masséna. A few years later, on June 21, 2011, the statue was moved again, this time to its fountain, south of Place Masséna.
Cleanup of the statue this summer
Starting May 28, the basin will be drained of its water. Then, scaffolding will be erected all around it, allowing teams to renovate the Apollo statue. A product carefully chosen for its qualities and non-toxicity will be sprayed. It will then be possible to see Apollo in red due to the products used. Apollo is expected to regain his original hue within a few days and will be clean as if new again.
It will once again be possible to admire Apollo from all angles from mid-June, once the scaffolding is taken down.
