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Eight French roundabouts with bizarre statues
Cultural laws require funding for roadside art projects… but the art commissioned can be surprising

If you are driving in France for an extended period, it is more than likely you will come across a roundabout or two.
France, unofficially, has the most roundabouts in the world with more than 60,000, and they are favoured as a low-cost measure to reduce accidents.
Read more: French roundabouts are also about revolution of a political kind
However, at the centre of many of these roundabouts is a piece of artwork, often contemporary, and sometimes completely bizarre.
A law known as the 1% artistique is responsible for these pieces.
First passed in 1951, this law required 1% of the expected budget of any public building work (schools, police stations, etc) to go towards purchasing or commissioning artwork.
This was later expanded to include road projects, leading to a flurry of art across the country, with local councils needing to comply with the law when constructing new roundabouts.
Read more: Make sense of... French motorway art
Some of these are related to local culture or industry, such as the lentil statues of Cussac-sur-Loire.
Others, however – including the infamous giant kiwi of Peyrehorade – seem completely out of place.
There is even a Facebook group called 'Neurchi de ronds-points moches' where users share photos of the ugliest roundabout art they have found.
Below are some of the most bizarre we have come across.
SAINT-AMAND-LES-EAUX: Water bottle

Credit: @BMoon_bee / Twitter
SUSMIOU: Fisherman

Credit: @Epipapu / Twitter
MONTPELLIER: Donut and sausage

Credit: @transjadada / Twitter
MARSEILLE: The thumb

Credit: @mairie6_8 / Twitter
BEAUMONT-SUR-SARTHE: Traffic cone

Credit: @TetsRenault / Twitter
LA HAYE-FOUASSIÈRE: Flying Saucer

Credit: @Mac44482203 / Twitter
CUSSAC-SUR-LOIRE: Lentils

Credit: @shizumaru / Twitter
PEYREHORADE: Kiwi

Credit: @lafleeeeeur / Twitter
Are there any… interesting pieces of roundabout art near you? Let us know via news@connexionfrance.com.
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