Adam Mickiewicz Monument in Poznań

Adam Mickiewicz, one of the most eminent Polish poets, died on November 26, 1855, in Constantinople, which quickly sparked a reaction in Greater Poland, where he was highly popular. Shortly after his death, a committee in honor of the poet was established in Poznań, led by Teofil Matecki. A mourning demonstration was organized, along with a fundraising campaign for a monument, which was to be created by Władysław Oleszczyński, a sculptor who knew Mickiewicz and was his admirer. Oleszczyński created a model of the monument, which was approved, and its realization was completed in 1857. The monument was unveiled on May 7, 1859, in Poznań, becoming the first monument to Mickiewicz on Polish soil. By the end of the 19th century, concerns about the monument's durability led to the idea of its reconstruction; it was replaced with a bronze cast, and the sculptor was Władysław Marcinkowski. It was completed in 1904, but both monuments were destroyed in 1939. After World War II, in 1955, a decision was made to erect a new monument, and a competition was organized, which was won by the design of Bazyli Wojtowicz and Czesław Woźniak. The monument was unveiled in 1960 at Adam Mickiewicz Square. Bas-reliefs were planned for the pedestal, but their execution proved more challenging, so they were ultimately limited to stone engravings. In the 1990s, discussions began about rebuilding the first monument, which would symbolize the long history and cultural ties to the poet. Finally, in 1998, on the 139th anniversary of the original monument's unveiling, its reconstruction, created by sculptor Józef Petruk, was unveiled. The rebuilding of the Mickiewicz monument is an important element of Greater Poland's cultural identity and a testament to the long-standing traditions of honoring the memory of great figures of Polish literature.