Monuments and Statues in Tarnów
1. Statue of John Paul II
Location: Plac Katedralny (Cathedral Square), on the south side of the Cathedral
Sculptor: Bronisław Chromy
Date of unveiling: 29 June 1981
Height: 5 meters
Relevance to Tarnów: Karol Wojtyla often visited Tarnów during his service as a Bishop and Metropolitan of Cracow. Pope John Paul II stayed in Tarnów on 9th and 10th of June 1987. At that time, during his meeting with the citizens of Tarnów he said: “You do not realize how I have always enjoyed my visits to Tarnów”. It is one of the first statues of pope John Paul II in the world! It is situated on the Cathedral Square, next to the southern wall of the Cathedral chancel. Bronze statue presents Pope in a canonical dress with wide open arms.
2. Victims of War and Fascism Monument
Location: Narutowicza street, in front of the Old Cemetery
Sculptors: Bogdana and Anatol Drwal
Date of unveiling: 19 June 1966 (26th anniversary of the first transport of Jews to KL Auschwitz)
The monument consists of two parts: three expressive kneeling figures constitute first part of the monument, second part is a concrete architectural structure with two “Grunwald” swords rising over it as well as a crying child by the wall (a symbol of life after the loss of the intimates). On the site facing Narutowicza street the two dates are engraved: 1939-1945, whereas the back wall was engraved with the following words: “In honor of 45 000 inhabitants of Tarnów region - the slaughtered victims of German fascism, the heroes who died for the independence of our homeland in the years 1939-1945”.
3. Sandor Petőfi Monument
Location: Plac Petőfiego (Petőfi Square) by Krakowska street
Sculptor: unknown Hungarian artist
Date of unveiling: 1986, founded by Hungarians as a gift for Tarnów
Relevance to Tarnów: Sandor Petőfi (1823-1849) Hungarian poet and adjutant of general Joseph Bem during Hungarian revolution in the years 1848-1849. Bronze bust of the poet is placed on the granite pedestal against a background of a concrete three-dimensional composition. Monument is surrounded with green square with entrance through Seklers' Gate (one of the two gates in Poland, the second is situated in Stary Sącz) from Krakowska Street. Seklers' Gate was put in place in May 2001 by Seklers (carpenters from Hungary).
4. Adam Mickiewicz Monument
Location: center of Plac Kazimierza Wielkiego (Kazimierz Wielki Square)
Sculptor: Tadeusz Błotnicki
Date of unveiling: 26 November 1900
Height: 4,5 meters (1,1 m bust, 3,4 m pedestal)
The citizens of Tarnów commemorated the 100th anniversary of birth and the 45th anniversary of death of Adam Mickiewicz, one of the Three Bards (national poets of Polish Romantic Literature) by founding his statue. The bronze bust placed on a tall pedestal was installed between two ornamented candelabras. It is believed that the monument managed to survive German occupation as they assumed it was a bust of Goethe…
5. Statue of Mercury
Location: Sanguszków Park in Tarnów-Gumniska, at the back of Sanguszków palace
It is a replica of "flying" Mercury (Roman god of trade) statue from 1580 located in Florence. The statue presents a nude young boy wearing helmet with wings, similar wings growing from his feet and holding a staff (caduceus). The whole figure stands poised on the toes of the left foot. It is believed that statue was brought to Tarnów by one of the members of Sanguszko family - the then owners of the palace in Gumniska.
6. Statue of Wincenty Witos
Location: Plac Drzewny by Lwowska Street
Sculptor: Józef Potępa from Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow
Designers of the pedestal and the arrangement: Julian Klimek from Cracow, architect, and Inga Kłosowicz from Tarnów, engineer
Date of unveiling: 8th October 1988
Height: 6,15 m: 1,65 m pedestal; 4,5 m figure (weight: 3,5 t)
Relevance to Tarnów: Wincenty Witos (1874-1945) was the initiator and activist of Polish people’s movement, born in a nearby Wierzchosławice. Witos was a member of a parliament and thrice prime minister of the Republic of Poland in the interwar period. An imposing monument: the figure of Witos is presented upright, cast in bronze and placed on the granite pedestal.
7. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Location: Plac Ofiar Katynia (Victims of Katyn Massacre Square) near Wałowa street
Sculptor: Bronisław Kukla
Date of unveiling: 28th June 1931
The first monument of unknown soldier was actually a plaque with an inscription: “To the Unknown Polish Soldier who sacrificed his life for the freedom of our homeland 1914-1920”. Anonymous author left the plaque by Adam Mickiewicz's monument on plac Kazimierza Wielkiego on the night of June 20th 1925. Erection of the monument in its present form was inspired by Tarnów branch of Towarzystwo Opieki nad Grobami Bohaterów in 1931. It is designed as a tumulus, made of porphyry and scattered rocks. It is crowned with a polyhedron modernistic pedestal with an iron light symbolizing an oil lamp (a few months after the unveiling urn with a soil from Cmentarz Legionistów in Łowczówek - Polish Legions Cemetery - was placed inside).
8. Kazimierz Brodziński Monument
Location: Piłsudskiego street, in front of I Liceum Ogólnokształcące (Kazimierz Brodziński's High School Number 1)
Sculptor: Walery Gadomski
Date of unveiling: 17th July 1884
Relevance to Tarnów: Kazimierz Brodziński, Polish Romantic poet and publicist, was born on 8th of March 1791 in Królówka, near Bochnia, and died on 10th of October 1835 in Dresden. He attended High School in Tarnów where he became familiarized with German language and literature. Bronisław Trzaskowski, headmaster of High School Number 1 in Tarnów, decided to commemorate Brodziński with a monument which would be situated nearby School's main entrance. It is a bronze bust placed on a high stone pedestal. Original figure was destroyed by Nazis in 1940 and than reconstructed in 1974.
9. Józef Szujski Monument
Location: Piłsudskiego street, in front of Kazimierz Brodziński I Liceum Ogólnokształcące
Sculptor: Piotr Kozakiewicz
Designer of the pedestal: Jan Czuba, local stone-mason
Date of unveiling: 1886
Relevance to Tarnów: Józef Szujski was born on 16th of June 1835 in Tarnów and died on 7th of February 1883 in Cracow. He was one of the greatest Polish historians of his times, professor of the Jagiellonian University in Cracow and a co-founder of Przegląd Polski, monthly magazine dedicated to science and literature. He was also a member of a political group “Stańczyki”. The idea of erecting this statue was also Bronisław Trzaskowski's, headmaster of High School Number 1 in Tarnów. It is a bronze bust placed on a tall stone pedestal.
10. Ludwik Solski Monument
Location: Mickiewicza street, in front of the Ludwik Solski Theater
Sculptor: Xavery Dunikowski
Date of realization: 1905
Date of unveiling in Tarnów: 11th June 1972
Relevance to Tarnów: In September 1945, in a newly created Municipal Home of Culture (cultural center located in a building which earlier served as a seat of “Sokół” - Polish Gymnastic Society) the Old Theatre was established, renamed to Ludwik Solski Municipal Theater on 28th of October of the same year. Solski - one of the greatest Polish actors, still performing at the time the Theater was created, not only agreed to use his name but also directed and performed on stage in Tarnów. The bronze bust figure presents Solski in one of his roles. It is a gift from the actor to his theater.
11. First Transport of Prisoners to Auschwitz Monument
Location: Plac Więźniów KL Auschwitz (Prisoners of KL Auschwitz Square) in front of the former Jewish bath (Mikvah)
Sculptor: Otto Schier, Tarnów architect
Date of unveiling: 14th June 1975 (on the 35th anniversary of the event)
Relevance to Tarnów: The monument was erected in place from which a group of 728 people (Poles from Tarnów and its region) was taken by Nazis to the first transport to the concentration camp KL Auschwitz. The monument is made of stone and concrete (symbolizes Auschwitz striped garments) and iron elements. An iron frieze with figures (symbolizes march to Auschwitz) was realized by Marian Biedroński's works, plastic elements on the concrete were forged by Alfred Gucwa's stone works.
12. The Victims of Stalinism Monument
Location: Plac Ofiar Stalinizmu (Vicitims of Stalinizm Square) by Lwowska street
Originators: professor Stefan Daus, a sculptor and an architect dr Wojciech Kosiński
Date of unveiling: 17th September 2000
It is the first monument of that kind in Poland. Its corner stone was sacred by Pope John Paul II 16th June 1999 during a mass in Stary Sącz. The figure of woman symbolizes Poland from which three eagles fly away. The figure of woman was cast in bronze and the rocks are of red granite.
Next to the monument an obelisk was placed with an inscription on the plaque:
“In honour of the victims of stalinism in the years 1939-1956” Tragic life of the persecuted is expressed by the form of a hurt bird which is linked with the other birds by Victoria sign. The monument, 6 meters high, was cast in bronze and placed on a granite pedestal(in the form of two cracked plates symbolizing tear of Poland after the outbreak of WWII. Stone elements are enriched with bronze bas-reliefs presenting the symbols of : struggling Poland, Sybiracy Association, Katyń, Political Prisoners of Stalinism Association and dates of the phases of building new homeland. The stone plate was placed in front of the monument which allows people to put flowers at the foot of it. The monument was initiated by Social Committee of the Building of Victims of Stalinism Monument in Tarnów and it is a tribute of the society of Małopolska to the victims of stalinism and repressions in years 1939-1956. The monument is devoted to the following: Poles slaughtered in Katyń, Charków, Twer and other places of execution in the Soviet Union, National Army soldiers, who were slaughtered or repressed by NKWD, members of Polish Independence Organizations who were sentenced to death or long-term imprisonment by PRL courts.
13. General Józef Bem Monument
Location: Wałowa street, opposite to Heroes of Ghetto street
Originators of the monument: Bogdana Drwal- Tarnów sculptor and Stefan Niedorezo-a graduate from Cracow Academy of Fine Arts
Originators of the pedestal: project: Otto Schier, realizator: Eugeniusz Kłak-stone work craftsman.
Date of unveiling: 11st May 1985
Height: 2,5 m (it is the height of the figure of general)
Relevance to Tarnów:General Józef Bem, the hero of Poland and Hungary, was born in Tarnów on 14th of March 1794 and died in Aleppo (Syria) on 10th of December 1850. The ashes of the general were ceremonially brought to Poland in 1929 and buried in a magnificent mausoleum in Park Strzelecki. As a result of the change of denomination (consequently he changed his name for Murad Pasza) could not be buried in the Tarnów Cathedral. The monument was initiated by Tarnów Friends of Hungary Association and erected in 1929. It presents a standing general wearing a Hungarian uniform. His figure was cast in bronze in the Tarnów casting works of Roman Sapa and was placed on a granite pedestal. General Bem monuments are also situated in Ostrołęka and Budapest. Bemowo-one of the districts of Warsaw was named after the general.
14. General Bem Mausoleum
Location: Park Strzelecki
Originator: Adolf Szyszko-Bohusz (rector of Cracow Academy of Fine Arts in years 1922-1927)
Date of unveiling: 30th June 1929
Relevance to Tarnów: General Józef Bem, the hero of Poland and Hungary, was born in Tarnów 14th March 1794 and died in Aleppo(Syria) 10th December 1850. The ashes of the general were ceremonially brought to Poland in 1929 and buried in a magnificent mausoleum in Park Strzelecki. As a result of the change of denomination(consequently he changed his name for Murad Pasza) could not be buried in the Tarnów Cathedral. In Park Strzelecki in the middle of a park pond there was erected a mausoleum-sarcophagus resting on six Corinthian columns. Its walls are covered with dates: 1794(his birthyear), 1850(his death), 1929(his ashes were brought to Tarnów), inscriptions: in Polish “Józef Bem”, in Hungarian “Daddy Bem, the greatest leader of the Hungarian independence movement”, in Arab “Ferik Murad Pasza”. The pillars of the mausoleum were placed on a two-stage plate which rises from water and were surrounded with stone balls symbolizing artillery in which general Bem served. These balls are linked by the gun metal chains cast from melt cannons.
15. St. Francis Monument
Place: Bernardyńska street, number 13, an outside courtyard of Bernardin monastery
Originator: Stefan Niedorezo-Cracow sculptor, co-author of Bem Monument next to Wałowa street
Date of unveiling: 1985 It is the figure of St. Francis cast in artificial stone and presenting the whole saint with a dog at his feet.
16. The Victims of Inroad 1846 Monument
Place: Old Cemetery in Zabłocie, Tarnów(in the vicinity of the monument of insurgents)
Date of realization and unveiling: 1999
The monument is in the form of a risen pavement made from granite and marble cobblestones. The monument is engraved with inscription from the Bible: “And he said, what did you do? The voice of your brother's blood screams to me from the earth”. On the monument there is also engraved a list of 53 people who lost their lives during these events.
17. The fallen of the January Uprising Monument
Place: Old Cemetery in Zabłocie, Tarnów(in the vicinity of the victims of Inroad 1846 monument)
Date of realization and unveiling: interwar period, in place of the former one
The monument-grave is compounded of sandstones crowned with a big cross. Its fronton carries a plaque with an inscription: “To the fallen for our homeland in 1863”. On the monument there are placed 300 marble tablets with the names of the fallen insurgents. The monument is surrounded with the graves of legionaries and a tombstone of Rufin Piotrowski-an insurgent, a diarist and a teacher in Tarnów schools, who died in 1872 in Tarnów.
18. The Slaughtered Jews Monument
Place: Jewish Cemetery, Szpitalna street
Originator: Dawid Beker-a sculptor
Date of unveiling: 1946
This monument commemorates the Tarnów Jews who were slaughtered by Nazis on the area of the Jewish cemetery. It is in the form of a broken stone column(the only preserved element of the Tarnów New Synagogue, which was destroyed in years 1939-1941). On the column there is a plaque: “Here are buried 2 000 Jews who were savagely slaughtered by the German thugs during 11st June 1942-5th September 1943”.
19. The monument-Mausoleum in honour of the Grey Ranks soldiers
Place: The Communal Cemetery in Tarnów-Mościce, Black Road street
Author of the project: mgr inż. Jacek Sumara
Contractor: Azoty Chemical Works in Tarnów as well as “Chemobudowa” in Cracow
Date of erection and unveiling: 30th September 1975
The elements of the monument: a plate with four plaques, two high pillars embellished with some elements containing the quotes of B. Jastrun: “To co się stanie z kodeksem dziejów...Wyście pisali krwią i nadzieją”. After the victory of the “Solidarity”an iron cross(resembling that of Pope) was added. On the monument there are engraved 23 names of the fallen of whom the youngest was 12 years old and the eldest was 47. One of the inscriptions says: “They were killed struggling against Nazi occupiers in years 1939-1945. Honour to their remembrance”
20. The 5th Regiment of Mounted Riflemen
Place: Matka Boska Fatimska Alley 2, next to ambulance service
Originator: lieutenant Ujejski
Date of unveiling: 9th September 1923
Date of unveiling of the commemorative plaque: 8th June 1929
The 3 metre high monument was initiated by commander of the regiment Aleksander Ehbar on the area of the Kłuszyńska Cavalry barracks in Tarnów. It is devoted to the fallen soldiers and officers of the regiment. It is made of concrete in the form of an obelisk crowned with an eagle with extended wings. The front plate is engraved with an inscription: “To soldiers and officers of the 5th regiment of mounted riflemen who died for our homeland-comrades in arms. 1920-1923”.
Next to the monument in August 2002 four small obelisks were unveiled, first of them is devoted to Sybiracy, second one to WiN organization, third to political prisoners of stalinism and fourth to those who were conscripted into “Mining Battalions” instead of the army.
21. Polish soldiers fallen 6th and 7th September Monument
Place: Krzyska street, Communal Cemetery in Tarnów-Krzyż
Originator: Marian Skoczek
Date of unveiling: 1951.
It is made of concrete and Pińczów sandstone with a cast iron Piast eagle on the top. On the monument there is a plaque with an inscription: “Forever glory for heroes fallen for our homeland 1945” and about 100 names of the fallen soldiers.
22. Soviet soldiers monument
Place: Krzyska street, Communal Cemetery in Tarnów-Krzyż
Date of unveiling: 1948
The monument is in the form of a marble cuboid crowned with a sandstone obelisk devoted to those who died during the liberation of Tarnów region in years 1944-1945. On the front stone plaque there is an inscription: “Honour and glory to those who died for the independence of Soviet Union and Poland”.
23. Bimah-remnants of the old Tarnów synagogue
Place: Fish Square/Jewish street
It is the remnant of the oldest Tranów synagogue. The Tarnów “Old” Synagogue was erected around 1630 or 1660. It was a Baroque brick building dominating over the neighbouring residential buildings. During the occupation in November 1939 it was burnt and destroyed by Nazis three years later. The only preserved part is bimah. The “New” Synagogue(built in 1908) was also destroyed by Nazis.
24. St. Stanislas Monument
Place: Pszenna street, next to the St. Stanislas Kostka church(Tarnów-Zbylitowska Góra)
25. “As a warning to drivers” Monument
Place: Krakowska street, crossroads with Liściasta street
On the monument there are four crosses and a steering wheel. Every cross symbolizes a child who was run over there by a drunken driver in June 1990. It cautions against irresponsible driving under the influence of alcohol. On the monument there is an inscription: “Do not drink, driver, you may kill someone!”.
26. Jan Szczepanik Monument
Place: Szczepanika square, next to Mickiewicza street
Originator: Michał Poręba
Date of unveiling: 2002
Relevance to Tarnów: Jan Szczepanik, “Polish Edison”, was born 13th June 1872 in Rudniki near Mościska(Ukraine) and died 8th November 1926 in Tarnów. He was connected with Tarnów since 1902 when he married Wanda Dzikowska(born in 1879) in the Tarnów cathedral, she was a daughter of a famous Tarnów district doctor- Zygmunt Dzikowski. Szczepanik was connected with Vienna and Drezno by his occupation but he always returned to his family in Tarnów. After death he was buried in a grave of Dzikowscy family at the Old Cemetery in Tarnów. It is the first in the world monument of a gifted inventor-the pioneer of a colour photography, television and film,the precursor of a modern weaving industry and a bulletproof vest.
27. Holy Virgin Mary Figure on the Cathedral Square
Place: Cathedral Square, from Cathedral street
Date of unveiling: 14th November 1884 The founder of the figure was the then Bishop of Tarnów Józef Alojzy Pukalski. The monument was unveiled on the 30th anniversary of the announcement of the dogma concerning the immaculate conception and presents the Holy Virgin standing on the globe with a crescent moon at her foot. Furthermore, she is wearing a crown with twelve stars. The socle is engraved with: “Pray for us, Queen of Poland”.
28. “The Elephant”
Place: Krakowska street, in front of CH “Krakus”
The author of the project: Tarnów sculptor Jacek Kucaba
Date of unveiling: 2001
The elephant was sculpted during summer holidays near Palace of the Youth in 2001. The same year the elephant was transported near CH Krakus at the crossroads of Krakowska, Nowy Świat and Mościckiego streets. Originally it was white however, it was painted by children in 2003. It is a common “meeting point”among the youth of Tarnów.
29. Poets’ Bench
Place: Wałowa street, next to the “Mirror Room”
Originator: Tarnów sculptor Jacek Kucaba
Date of unveiling: 3rd December 2004
The figures of Agnieszka Osiecka, Zbigniew Herbert and Jan Brzechwa sitting on the main pedestrianized street of the city-Wałowa street on the bench in front of the building which houses the Mirror Room. The boxes placed next to them contain books with their works.
30.The tram stop
Place: Wałowa street, near the place of the former tram stop
Date of unveiling: May 2004
In years 1911-1942 Tarnów was the only provincial town of Galicia where trams run. Tarnów trams in red with blue and gold coat of arms were called “the ladybirds”. The length of the tramline was 2,5 kilometres. Every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with the frequency of 6 minutes run 6 trams.
31. “The Words Fair”
Place: Alicja and Jan Preiss square, near the crossroads of Nowy Świat and Kopernika streets
The author of project: Tarnów sculptor Jacek Kucaba
32. “The Mask”
Place: Wielkie Schody street
Originator: architect Witold Gizbert Studnicki, realizator of the sculpture: Henryk Hoch(Heschel) 1881-1943
Date of unveiling: 1936
The author was inspired by the masks of the Tarnów Town Hall. The inhabitants of the then Tarnów originally thought it was the monument of the the founder of the city-Spycimir Leliwita. From the beginning it became the object frequently painted with graffiti; a photo from the thirties of the 20th century presents the mask painted with the inscriptions by the local communists.
33. The Monument of the 14th Kołobrzeg Mechanised Regiment
Place: Szkotnik street( the area of the former so called “lower barracks”)
The author of the project: Jerzy Martynów
Realization: Franciszek Machowski, Tarnów stone mason
Date of unveiling: 20th May 2004
Relevance to Tarnów: In years 1947-1993 in the so called “lower barracks” in Tarnów there were stationed the 14th Kołobrzeg Mechanised Regiment.
The soldiers took part in the fights for Warszawa, Kołobrzeg as well as in the bloody fights for the breaking of Wał Pomorski where a heavy toll was taken as a result of a severely fortified area. During the ceremony of the unveiling of the monument an urn containing earth coming from battle fields(where 355 soldiers died) was placed. On the granite socle there is a large white Piast eagle and at the foot of the monument an inscription: “in this place there is buried an earth with blood of the fallen soldiers of the 14th Infantry Regiment from the battle fields of WWII” was engraved.
34. The monument-boulder “To the fallen for our homeland”
Place: Panny Marii street (the area of Our Lady of Scapular Sanctuary)
Date of unveiling: 26th April 1992 This boulder commemorates patriotic celebrations which took place in this church during PRL period, for example on the anniversary of the outbreak of WWII and many more.
On the monument there is an inscrption: “To the fallen for our homeland”
35. Rufin Piotrowski Monument
Place: Old Cemetery in Zabłocie, Tarnów (in the vicinity of the victims of the inroad 1846 monument)
The author of the project: Antoni Kurzawa (sculptor) together with A. Pisz; realizator: Władysław Eliasz
Date of unveiling: 1876(four years after Piotrowski’s death)
Relevance to Tarnów: Rufin Piotrowski: an insurgent, a diarist and a teacher in schools of Tarnów, died in 1872 in Tarnów The monument is composed of stone blocks in the form of a steep pyramid on which a figure of a woman was placed(she symbolizes our homeland). In one hand she holds a medallion presenting the head of a man, in the other she keeps a laurel wreath. On the monument there is also placed a chain with broken shackles.
36. Seklerska Gate
Place: Petöfi square, next to Krakowska street
Date of unveiling: 26th May 2001
Relevance to Tarnów: Seklerska Gate named after Józef Bem and Sandor Petöfi is a gift of a Hungarian foundation Irott Szó and Sepsiszentgyőrgy city for Tarnów city. It is the second, except for Stary Sącz, such gate in Poland. The day of the passing of the gate was connected with the 170th anniversary of the battle of Ostriołęka-one of the battles of Polish November uprising in which Józef Bem participated.
An expression “secler”(seculi) means folk, nation and the mission of the defence of south-eastern borders of the Hungarian Kingdom. Seklers reside in the area located the farthest in the east in the Carpathian Mountains. They have played an important role in the Hungarian history and intellectual life. The medieval Seklers’ council and military democration was a one-of-a-kind phenomenon in feudal Europe.
Till the 14th century the notion of Seklers-siculitas-was tantamount to the notion of nobility. Modern history has been the sequence of various battles for rights. Sekler gates constitute the embodiment of a peculiar folk awareness. They were made of different kinds of good quality oak trees and less frequently of pine trees. The structure of the gates resemble European craftsmanship technique whereas the layout of the ornaments(sculpted plants, moustaches and other symbols) symbolizes another world and have its source in the reality before the conquest of Hungarians who came from east.
Among the gates built ages before on the large areas of eastern Europe the most numerous and technically interesting ones are preserved in Transylvania. Unfortunately they are completely forgotten in Europe. The traditinal Seklers’ hospitality does not allow gates to be closed. They are open to everybody, both happy and miserable, like open and philanthropic hearts of Seklers. It is expressed by the inscriptions on the arches of the gates: “Peace to the newcomers, blessing with the leavers”.
37. The 16th Infantry Regiment of Tarnów Region Monument
Place: Mościckiego street, the corner of Szkotnik street(the area of the so called “lower barracks)”
Date of unveiling: 2002
Relevance to Tarnów: In years 1918-1939 in the so called “lower barracks” in Tarnów there were stationed the 16th Infantry Regiment. During the September campaign it constituted the Cracow Army. In years 1939-1945 the soldiers of this regiment struggled for the independence of our homeland in partisan detachments of various organizations: the National Army, the Services
38. The Slaughtered Young Poles Monument
Place: PTTK street (St. Martin Hill, east from the children's playground)
On the small square covered with granite cobblestones there was placed a boulder with a cross(resembling that of scouts) and in the middle of the cross there is an inscription: “Here was murdered a group of young Poles slaughtered by Nazis 23th December 1939...”
39. The Victims of WWII from Krzyż Monument
Place: Krzyska street, Parish Cemetery in Tarnów-Krzyż
It is a tapering sandstone obelisk with a cross on its top. It is devoted to the inhabitants of the then Krzyż village near Tarnów, who were killed during WWII. Two inscriptions engraved on the monument: “To God for glory, to people in order to remember the victims of WWII from our parish. The parishioners”. And below: “To the victims of concentration camps and fronts”.
40. The Victims of WWII from Klikowa Monument
Place: Zagumnie street, Parish Cemetery in Tarnów-Klikowa The monument is in the form of an altar with two granite polished stones. On first of them, a rectangular one there is an inscription: “And when years pass and the descendants forget about the fearful days of 1939-1945...”The second one is engraved with the map of Poland with the V-sign in the middle.
41. Wincenty Mucha Monument
Place: Zbylitowska street (Tarnów-Mościce, W. Mucha Park)
Date of unveiling: 1998
Relevance to Tarnów: Wincenty Mucha was a leader of the scouting regiment and the founder of the Grey Ranks in Mościce. The monument was erected by the living scouts of the Grey Ranks. It commemorates scoutmaster W. Mucha and the scouts who struggled for an independent homeland.
42. Monument in the form of a stone, commemorating the establishment of the district „Za Torem”
Location: the square at the intersection of Obrońców Lwowa Street and Czerwona Street in Tarnów – Mościce
Date of unveiling:1998
The monument commemorates the establishment of a new district on 2nd June 1934. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone was attended by Polish President Ignacy Mościcki and Tarnovian Bishop Franciszek Lisowski. The commission responsible for drawing up plans of the new district comprised of A. Miziewicz, S. Hupsch and E. Mrowiec.
This modest monument was founded by the inhabitants of Mościce to commemorate this event as well as the 80th anniversary of gaining independence and protecting Lvov.
43. The Monument of Roman Brandstaetter Location:at the corner of Wałowa and Rybna Streets
Date of unveiling: 10th June 2008
Author: Jacek Kucaba, a sculptor from Tarnów
Relevance to Tarnów: Roman Brandstaetter, a brilliant expert on the Holy Bible, was born on 3rd January 1906 in Tarnów and died on 28th September 1987. He came from an intellectual Jewish family. In 1946 Branstaetter changed his denomination and was baptized a Catholic in Rome.
The monument is a two-metre-high sculpture of the Tarnovian writer, poet, dramatist and translator. The figure of Branstaetter, dressed in a beret, is leaning against the corner of a tenemant house, smoking a pipe and looking at passers-by.
44. "Kopijnik" situated between The Sekler Gate and the Monument of Sandor Petofi
Location: The Petofi Square on Krakowska Street
Date of unveiling: 10th June 2006 in honour of Forgon Mihaly and 14th June 2008 in honour of Norbert Lippóczy “Kopijnik” is a gift donated to Tarnów by Hungarian cities.
“Kopijnik” is the Polish equivalent of the Hungarian word “Kopjafa”, meaning a wooden pole traditionally placed on the tombs of warriors in Hungary to honour their heroic deeds. A few similar poles were placed in other Polish cities. The pole in Tarnów was set up in 2006 to commerate Furgon Mihaly, a Hungarian lawyer, historian and soldier who died of wounds received during the liberation of the fortress in Przemyśl in 1914. After the fight he was taken to Tarnów, where he died and was buried.
In 2008 another “kopijnik” was placed in Tarnów in honour of Norbert Lippóczy, a Hungarian who settled in Tarnów before the war to run a family winery and stayed in the city for the rest of his life. Lippóczy was regarded as an active social worker, history and art lover and sophisticated collector. Additionally, one of his greatest achievements was tightening relations between Poland and Hungary.
“Kopijnik” is located in a special area of the city dedicated to Hungarian culture and history, the main part of which is the bust of Sandor Petofi, a poet and aide-de-camp of General Bem. The area also includes formerly placed poles and the Sekler Gate symbolizing the friendship between the two nations.
45. The Way of the Cross in Tarnów – Krzyż
Location: 112 Krzyska Street, next to the church
Date of unveiling the Way: 17th September 1989 (by archbishop Jerzy Ablewicz)
Date of unveiling the figure of the Resurrected Christ: 16th December 1990 (by archbishop Jerzy Ablewicz)
Author of the project/Design of 14 stations: Anna Pawłowska
Author of the project/Design of the Resurrected Christ figure: Mieczysław Stobierski
The Way of the Cross comprises 14 chapels, which are over three meters high and crowned with metal cases. The cases contain canvases presenting the Passion of Christ, which were painted in the second half of the 19th century by Italian painter Luigi Morgari. Later Anna Pawłowska and Zofia Pawłowska from the Restoration Workshop at the Diocesan Museum in Tarnów worked on the conservation of the paintings. On the square where the Way of the Cross is located you can also see an imposing cross made of oak.
At the end of the Way you will encounter a statue of Christ placed on a 1,9 metre high socle. The stone sculpture, which was made in the years 1989-1990, depicts Christ in the moment of Resurrection.
46. The Cross
Location: 177 Mościckiego Street
Date of unveiling: 1888
Founders: Marcin Kozioł, Marianna Kapust, Marcin Solok
It is a stone figure with the image of Christ, adorned with bas-relieves.
47. The Cross
Location: 143 Mościckiego Street
Date of unveiling: 1925
Founders: Ignacy and Maria Zając
It is a stone cross in Neogothic style with the image of Jesus Christ, placed on a high pedestal
48. The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception.
Location: 203 Mościckiego Street
Date of unveiling: 1928
Founder: Michał Rogóż
It is a stone statue placed on a concrete pedestal and protected with a decorated roof
49. The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Location: 15 Chopina Street, at the corner of Matejki Street
Date of unveiling: 1890
Founders: Michał and Apolonia Mondel
It is a stone statue placed on a concrete pedestal
50. The monument of Andrzej Małkowski
Location: Andrzej Małkowski Square, at the intersection of Krakowska, Bema and Bandrowskiego Streets
Author: Michał Poręba
Date of unveiling: 19th September 2008
Relevance to Tarnów: Andrzej Małkowski was educated in Tarnów. Andrzej Małkowski is one of the creators of Polish scouting, its excellent trainer and theorist. He was also an activist in Polish youth and independence movements.
The monument (bust) is made from sandstone.
51. The Monument of John Paul II - “The Effulgent Pope”
Location: Pope John Paul II square, next to Bl. Karolina Kózka Church
Author: Tarnow sculptor Jacek Kucaba
Date of Unveiling: 16th October 2008
Height: the socle is integral with the sculpture: 10 m; the sculpture alone is 3.3-m-high
Relevance to Tarnów: Karol Wojtyla often visited Tarnów during his service as a Bishop and Metropolitan of Cracow. Pope John Paul II stayed in Tarnów 9th and 10th June 1987. At that time, during his meeting with the inhabitants of Tarnów he said: “You don’t even realise how much I like to visit Tarnów”. The monument is placed on the same spot where on 10th June 1987 the Pope beatified Karolina Kózkówna. 2 million people were present there, mostly farmers from all of Poland. Before the Pope started the liturgy, he had said: “I am happy to be here with you, this land has always been close to me”
The sculpture of the Holy Father pervades compositionally the socle, which is made of reinforced concrete covered with granite. There are flowers, in Papal and national colours, placed in the hollows of the socle.
52. “The Grave of People exiled to Siberia”
Location: Old Cemetery (burial plot XIV), Narutowicza Street
Height: about 2 metres
The project and realization: Olgierd Wójcik and Olgierd Sakowicz (with help of Otto Schier)
Date of unveiling: 29th September 1996
The monument is composed a two-metre-high white, stone cross placed on a rather low socle. There is an eagle (a Polish ensign) as well as a symbol of people exiled to Siberia (braided letters S and Z) placed on the cross. There is an inscription on the socle: “To pay homage to Siberia and Katyń, and for knowledge and remembrance of the living 1939 – 1956”.
53. Post-glacial granite boulder “The Pilgrim”
Location: Tarnowskich Alley
Dimensions: height: 1,5 m, perimeter: 1,75 m, weight: around 1 t
Date of unveiling: 1983
Placed in 1983 at the intersection of 21' E meridian and 50' N parallel. The initiator of placing the boulder was dr Franciszek Pulit.
54. Post-glacial boulders “The Triplets”
Location: Piłsudzkiego Street, vis-a-vis the swimming pool, on parking lot
Dimensions: height: 2 m, perimeter: 10,2 m, weight: around 28 t Three erratic boulders (one bigger than others) called “The Triplets” were found in 2001 in Rzędzin District on Tadeusz Więckowski’s field (behind Bl. Karolina Kózkówna Church) and moved to the current location.
55. Plaque (obelisk) commemorating construction of Zakłady Azotowe w Tarnowie – Mościcach
Location: Kwiatkowskiego Street, in front of head office of the factory
Date of unveiling: 12th October 1990
A replica of the plaque placed on the wall of the building of Oddzial Kwasu Azotowego, commemorating the opening of Państwowe Zakłady Azotowe w Mościcach (the biggest factory in Tarnów) on 18th January 1930.
56. The assemblage of four small boulders arranged on the 5th Regiment of Mounted Riflemen square in memory of “Miners - Soldiers”, WiN organization, Political Prisoners
and people exiled to Siberia
Location: 5th Regiment of Mounted Riflemen square ( M.B. Fatimska Alley)
Date of unveiling:
“Miners – Soldiers”: 1995
WiN organization: 25th August 2002
Political Prisoners: 25th August 2002
People exiled to Siberia: 2002
57. The obelisk commemorating the death of fire-fighters in 2004 in Tarnów
Location: 39 Klikowska Street, in front of the Town Headquarters of The State Fire Service
Date of unveiling: 14th May 2005
The obelisk commemorating the death of st. str. Roman Rogoziński and st. str. Grzegoż Wolak, who both died during the night of the 12/13 June 2004 while putting out the fire of the restaurant “Podzamcze”, located on St. Martin Hill. The year 2004 was the most tragic in the history of Tarnovian Fire Service.
58. The Monument of Mother of God Queen of Poland surrounded by King John II Casimir, M. Kolbe and S. Kostka
Location: 5 Zbylitowska Street, in front of parish church in Tarnów – Mościce
Date of unveiling: 1984
The group of figures consists of 4 statues: in the middle the biggest one, the statue of Mother of God, on the right side is the statue of king of Poland John II Casimir, who is offering a crown to her, which is illustrating his vows from 1965. On the left are much smaller statues of Maximilian Kolbe and Stanislaw Kostka.
At first, since 1963, the monumental concrete figures were situated in the main altar of the Holy Virgin Mary Queen of Poland Church. The works to change the main altar, carried out on a large scale, were started in 1984. It was then that the statues were moved to church’s square.
59. The monument of King Władysław Łokietek
Location: Square at 7 Wałowa Street , next to the City Walls
Author: Czesław Dźwigaj (professor of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków)
Date of unveiling: 2nd July 2009 r.
Height: 3,5 m figure, 1,5 m socle
Relevance to Tarnów: On 7 March 1330, king Łokietek issued to Spycimir Leliwita document granting Tarnów city rights. It allowed location of the town on Magdeburg Law, introducing the right to self-governance and criminal court. The document was issued in recognition of numerous services and contributions (servicia plurima et merita) Spycimir had made to the King Władysław Łokietek and his courage in a battle against Hungarians. Spycimir has located town on a top of a hill (226 m above sea level). The oldest copy of the document is kept at Czartoryskich Museum in Kraków and the second one in Regional Museum in Tarnów. On 15 May 2008 members of the Tarnów City Council passed a resolution No XXI/311/2008 allowing the erection of the statue of king Władysław Łokietek on 7 Wałowa Street.
Chamber of Commerce in Tarnów, TK Development – developer of Tarnovia Shopping Mall and the Local Government of Tarnów has contributed to creation of the monument and its surroundings.
It is believed that touching King’s shoe with right hand brings luck and makes dreams come true.
60. Oaks of Katyń Ave
Location: Wojska Polskiego Street, facing Legionów H. Dąbrowskiego residential area
Date of unveiling: 20th of April 2009
Relevance to Tarnów: In April 2009, twenty six oaks commemorating the 69th anniversary of the Katyń Massacre were planted. Each oak represents one citizen of Tarnów (or localities) murdered by the Russian secret police. They were killed with a shot in the back of the head in Katyń in 1940.
In April 2010, nine more oaks were planted – eight to commemorate the victims of 1940 massacre, and one to honor the victims of the presidential plane crash in Smoleńsk. The passengers were on their way to official celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the Katyń Massacre. Among the victims were: Lech Kaczyński, President of the Republic of Poland, and his wife; Sławomir Skrzypek, president of the National Bank of Poland and Wiesław Woda, MP from Tarnów. None of the 96 passengers aboard survived the crash.
Each of the oaks is accompanied by information plaque. Several metal figures of soldiers, arranged in a little birch copse, complete the monument. Oaks of Katyń Ave in Tarnów is a part of a nation-wide program – 'Katyń… save from oblivion' (“Katyń... ocalić od zapomnienia”).
61. Black Oaks in Tarnów
Location: parking lot of “Zajazd pod Dębem” Inn, 9B H. Marusarz Street
Date of unveiling:about 1985
Relevance to Tarnów: In the 1980s, ten thousand-year-old black oaks were dug out from the gravel-pit on the river Wisłoka in Latoszyn, near Dębica. After being transported to Tarnów, the oaks were placed in front of an inn, which was just about to be opened, giving the newly established accommodation facility its name – “Pod Dębami”, or 'the Oaks Inn'.
At first, the oaks were planned to be placed at St Martin's Hill, marking a symbolic border of the Carpathian Mountains (St. Martin's Hill is the northernmost hill of the Carpathians).
62. Obelisk commemorating the first transport of prisoners to the concentration camp in Auschwitz
Location: Platform no.1, main train station in Tarnów
Date of unveiling: 14th of June 2010 (70th anniversary of the transport)
Relevance to Tarnów: On 14th of June 1940, from the train station in Tarnów, a transport of 728 prisoners left for Auschwitz. They were mostly political prisoners held imprisoned in Tarnów. They became the first victims of the most fatal concentration camp in the history of the World, where the Nazis murdered over one and a half million people of many nations. Over 50 transports of prisoners, totaling to 7,000 people, were sent from Tarnów to Auschwitz between the years 1940 and 1943.
728 names are inscribed on the monument.
63. Monument to St Maximilian Kolbe
Location: square at the intersection of Bajana and Dąbka streets.
Author: Ewa Fleszar
Date of unveiling: 14th of August 2010 (69th anniversary of Kolbe's death)
Height: some 2 meters
The monument is made of bronze and stands on a granite plinth. The Saint wears a habit and stretches his hands in a gesture of love. A striped garment, wore by all prisoners of the KL Auschwitz, is presented on front of the plinth.
The monument has been placed in a so-called 'district of heroes', section of Tarnów (the streets are named after Polish heroes, for example major H. Sucharski, colonel S. Dąbek, general H. Kleeberg). The monument was unveiled at the beginning of 'the Year of Kolbe' in the Catholic Church, which preceded the 70th anniversary of the martyrdom of St Maximilian Maria Kolbe in concentration camp in Auschwitz.
64. The Sculpture by Wilhelm Sasnal in Tarnów – Mościce
Location: Chemiczna Street, next to Tarnów-Mościce train station
Author: Wilhelm Sasnal
Date of unveiling: 29th of August 2010
Height: around 4 meters
Mościce is a industrial section of Tarnów, where Wilhelm Sasnal grew up. The Sculpture is in a form of pyramid made of cement rings and covered with adhesive. Inside one of the rings a date: 28.03.1983 is inscribed. The author explains that random date as a symbol of an incident that might have, but has never occurred. It recalls the years of Russian occupation of Poland, after the WWII, and state of permanent stress and threat among citizens of Mościce, assuming that the nearby Nitrogen Works is target for the missiles from beyond the Iron Curtain.
Elaboration: Marcin Pałach, Tarnów Tourist Information Centre
Photos: Tarnów Tourist Information Centre, UMT
Date of elaboration: 01-06-2007, update: 27-06-2011
Bibliography:
“Tarnów-Wielki Przewodnik” joint work, published by Tarnowskie Towarzystwo Kulturalne and Muzeum Okręgowe in Tarnów
“Mój Tarnów” Antoni Sypek, foundation “Tarnowskie Towarzystwo Przemysłowe” and Izba Przemysłowo-Handlowa in Tarnów, Tarnów 2005
“Pomniki i Miejsca Pamięci Narodowej” joint work, published by PTTK Oddział “Ziemi Tarnowskiej”, Tarnów, 1st edition
Translated by Paweł Rybak, Magdalena Łazarz, Iwona Kras, Wojciech Malig, Katarzyna Balcerek
