Chávez Fountain - Brig, VS, Switzerland
Posted by: 
fi67
N 46° 18.986 E 007° 59.282
32T E 422089 N 5129703
A fountain in memory of the Peruvian aviator Jorge Chávez.
Waymark Code: WMJWTY
Location: Valais, Switzerland
Date Posted: 01/08/2014
Views: 9
The Chávez Fountain is located on the square in front of Sebastian Chapel in the center of Brig. It is an octagonal stone fountain with a four pipe column in the center the column has a statue of Icarus atop and a bronze relief portrait of Jorge Chávez at the front side.
The plaque at the side states that the fountain was erected in memory of Jorge Chávez (1887-1910) the first aviator to cross the Alps.
The plaque does not say more. Here is the story: Jorge Chávez, also known as Géo Chávez was a Peruvian aviator. He achieved several prizes for aviation records, and on September 23, 1910 he started in Brig for the first air crossing of the Alps. He arrived in Domodossola Italy after a flight of 42 minutes, but his plane crashed upon landing. Chávez died of his injuries after four days. Brig and Domodossola erected monuments to him. In his home country Peru he became an iconic figure and a symbol for aviation related institutions as the Air Force. The international Airport of Lima was renamed after him in 1965.
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