Cow monument in Stare Pole

The Cow Monument, located in Stare Pole in the Vistula Delta, is a unique symbol of cattle breeding in Poland, created during the era of the Polish People's Republic. It is the first cow monument in the country, depicting a purebred Dutch cow that was a record-holder at the local Provincial Center for Agricultural Progress, producing 7,000 kg of milk annually with a fat content of 4.88%. The idea for its creation emerged in 1978 on the initiative of Engineer Arkadiusz Rybak, the center's director, and the monument itself was crafted by Jan Kamiński as his diploma project at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk. Architecturally, the monument features a wooden frame covered with fiberglass matting and finished with epoxy resin and paint, making it an interesting example of contemporary applied sculpture. After 1989, a monument of an Ursus tractor was also placed next to the cow, highlighting the importance of agriculture in the region. The monument attracts significant tourist interest, especially from visitors to the nearby Malbork Castle, and has become a popular destination for school trips, underscoring its cultural and educational value.