The International Monument to the Reformation (French: ''Monument international de la Réformation''; German: ''Internationales Reformationsdenkmal''), usually known as the Reformation Wall (French: ''Mur des réformateurs''), was inaugurated in 1909 in

Geneva Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...

, Switzerland. Key individuals, events, and documents of the

Protestant Reformation The Reformation, also known as the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation, was a time of major theological movement in Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the papacy and ...

are depicted therein in statues and

bas-relief Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces remain attached to a solid background of the same material. The term ''relief'' is from the Latin verb , to raise (). To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that th ...

s. The Wall is in the grounds of the

University of Geneva The University of Geneva (French: ''Université de Genève'') is a public university, public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded in 1559 by French theologian John Calvin as a Theology, theological seminary. It rema ...

, which was founded by

John Calvin John Calvin (; ; ; 10 July 150927 May 1564) was a French Christian theology, theologian, pastor and Protestant Reformers, reformer in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of C ...

, and was built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Calvin's birth and the 350th anniversary of the university's establishment. It is built into the old city walls, and the monument's location there is designed to represent the integral importance of the fortifications, and therefore of the city of Geneva, to the Reformation. The monument was the culmination of a contest launched to transform that part of the park. The contest involved 71 proposals from around the world, and was won by four Swiss architects: Charles Dubois, Alphonse Laverrière, Eugène Monod, and Jean Taillens (whose other design came third). The sculptures were then created by two French sculptors: Paul Landowski and Henri Bouchard.Chancellerie de l'Etat de Genève:
Le parc des Bastions
'. URL last accessed 2008-04-28.McWilliam, Neil:

, ''The Art Bulletin'', June 1, 1995. URL last accessed 2008-04-28. During the Reformation, Geneva was the centre of

Calvinism Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Christian, Presbyteri ...

, and its history and heritage since the sixteenth century has been closely linked to that of

Protestantism Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

. Due to the close connections to that theology, the individuals most prominently depicted on the Wall were Calvinists; nonetheless, key figures in other theologies are also included. At the centre of the monument, four 5 metre-tall statues of Calvinism's main proponents are depicted: * William Farel (1489–1565) *

(1509–1564) * Theodore Beza (1519–1605) *

John Knox John Knox ( – 24 November 1572) was a Scottish minister, Reformed theologian, and writer who was a leader of the country's Reformation. He was the founder of the Church of Scotland. Born in Giffordgate, a street in Haddington, East Lot ...

(c.1513–1572) To the left (facing the Wall, ordered from left to right) of the central statues are 3 metre-tall statues of: * Frederick William of Brandenburg (1620–1688) *

William the Silent William the Silent or William the Taciturn (; 24 April 153310 July 1584), more commonly known in the Netherlands as William of Orange (), was the leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish Habsburg Netherlands, Habsburgs that set off the ...

(1533–1584) * Gaspard de Coligny (1519–1572) To the right (ordered from left to right) are 3 metre-tall statues of: *

Roger Williams Roger Williams (March 1683) was an English-born New England minister, theologian, author, and founder of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Providence Plantations, which became the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Pl ...

(1603–1684) *

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...

(1599–1658) * Stephen Bocskai (1557–1606) Along the wall, to either side of the central statues, is engraved the motto of both the Reformation and Geneva: '' Post Tenebras Lux'' (Latin for ''After darkness, light''). On the central statues' pedestal is engraved a

Christogram A Christogram () is a monogram or combination of letters that forms an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ, traditionally used as a Christian symbolism, religious symbol within the Christian Church. One of the oldest Christograms is the C ...

: ΙΗΣ. The monument gave inspiration to one of the most important 20th century Hungarian poems, written by Gyula Illyés in 1946 under the title ''Before the Monument of Reformation in Geneva''.

References

{{Coord, 46, 12, 01, N, 6, 08, 44, E, display=title, source:dewiki 1909 sculptures Buildings and structures in Geneva Culture in Geneva Monuments and memorials in Switzerland Protestant Reformation Reformation in Switzerland University of Geneva Tourist attractions in Geneva Walls Colossal statues