Grunwald Monument in Żywiec

The Grunwald Monument stands on Plac Grunwaldzki in the centre of Żywiec, between Kościuszki, Handlowa and Podwale streets. It commemorates the victory at Grunwald, and the present version is a reconstruction from 2005, because the original from 1910 was destroyed during the Second World War.

History of the monument

The foundation stone for the first monument was blessed on 29 May 1909, and it was unveiled on 15 July 1910, on the 500th anniversary of the battle. The architectural design was prepared by the Kraków architect Witold Florkiewicz, the sculpture of the eagle was designed by Jan Szczepkowski, the bronze was cast in Kraków foundries, and the stonework was done by the Żywiec stonemason Maciej Nawratil. In 1939 the monument was destroyed by the Germans. A plaque with the inscription “W 500-ną rocznicę zwycięstwa pod Grunwaldem - Ziemia Żywiecka” (“On the 500th anniversary of the victory at Grunwald - the Żywiec Land”) survived.

Reconstruction

Efforts to rebuild it were started in 1985 by a citizens' committee. The recreated monument was unveiled on 11 November 2005 and blessed by Bishop Tadeusz Rakoczy. The eagle stands on a tapering plinth measuring 680 by 620 cm.

Practical information

• Plac Grunwaldzki in Żywiec, near the Żywiec City Museum (about 400 m).
• Nearby also stands the Co-Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, about 500 m away.
• The monument stands in the urban space and can be viewed at any time.