Statue of General San Martin - Boulogne-sur-mer

Behind the Dyke Sainte-Beuve, the equestrian statue of General San Martin, Argentina's "Libertador" , illustrates the close ties that have existed between the two countries for more than a century.

San Martin, a national hero in Argentina , is also an important figure in Boulogne ! Behind the Sainte-Beuve dike stands the statue of the Libertador. And what a statue it is! Made of bronze on a stone base, it represents the Argentine general carrying a flag on a trotting horse, with "The Republic" at his feet offering him a laurel wreath. On the other side of the statue are numerous symbols of war such as sabres, cannons and rifles.

Liberator of Argentina in 1816, Chile in 1817 and Peru in 1821 under Spanish rule, San Martin is a true icon in South America. But why such a tribute in Boulogne-sur-Mer? After refusing to take power in Argentina, the hero left his country with his family for Europe in 1824. He lived in Brussels for a while, before moving to France. But in 1848 he fled the Paris riots and decided to go to England. There he discovered Boulogne-sur-Mer...

During a tour between Paris and London , San Martin fell ill . He was forced to stop in Boulogne-sur-Mer . He discovered a fashionable city and fell under its spell. He stayed there for two years, until his death in 1850. He stayed with the lawyer and journalist Adolphe Gérard in Grand-Rue. He enjoyed walking in the gardens of Tintelleries, along the river Liane or in the footsteps of Napoleon, against whom he had fought in Spain...

At the initiative of some compatriots who came to Boulogne-sur-Mer, the idea for a tribute was born. After raising funds through subscriptions in Paris and Buenos Aires, the 8.70 metre statue was created in nine months by the sculptor Henri Allouard. It was inaugurated on 24 October 1901 and is still the subject of a real pilgrimage today. When travelling to France, Argentinians often stop in Boulogne-sur-Mer to pay tribute to their hero.

Willem Vandenameele