Know Before You Go
The statue is freely accessible, and so are the concerts in the summer.
Warsaw, Poland
Chopin Monument
In the summer, the area around this sculpture transforms into a vibrant concert venue.
This statue depicts Frédéric Chopin sitting under a weeping willow in the wind. It represents his connection with nature and shows a moment where Chopin is resting with his eyes closed and hand extended, as if playing on an invisible piano.
Chopin was a famous 19th-century composer whose music is still recognized today. He grew up in Warsaw and stayed there until he was 20, after which he moved to Paris.
After his move, Chopin supported himself by selling his compositions and giving piano lessons. Unfortunately, he died young at age 39 of pericarditis.
The Chopin monument, which is said to be the most famous Polish sculpture in the world, was designed in 1908 by Wacław Szymanowski. Tsar Nicholas I consented to having it built to honor what would’ve been Chopin’s 100th birthday.
However, due to political problems, the statue was not installed until 1926. It was unfortunately short-lived. Nazis broke the original statue in 1940 and sent to foundries to be melted down. Fortunately, the mold from which the statue was made was not destroyed. In 1958, this replica was made and installed where the original once stood.
During the summer, the area around the monument serves as a concert venue for the Łazienki Królewskie’s Sunday Chopin concerts. The park, which is the city’s largest, also contains an amphitheater, a royal palace, and replicas of famous buildings from around the world.
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CoolCrab
