Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
5 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
6 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
7 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
8 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Poland Poznań Nierozpoznani

Nierozpoznani

A cluster of headless, armless sculptures looms within a popular Polish park.

Poznań, Poland

Added By
bartlomiejnizio
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
A crowd of headless sculptures stands in the park.   bartlomiejnizio / Atlas Obscura User
A crowd of headless sculptures stands in the park.   bartlomiejnizio / Atlas Obscura User
So many legs!   bartlomiejnizio / Atlas Obscura User
Unrecognized.   bartlomiejnizio / Atlas Obscura User
An army of headless sculptures.   bartlomiejnizio / Atlas Obscura User
No heads.   bartlomiejnizio / Atlas Obscura User
The headless figures.   bartlomiejnizio / Atlas Obscura User
A plaque describing the art.   bartlomiejnizio / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

An army of headless bodies awaits those who wander through this historic Polish park. Gathered in the middle of the green space and looking as through they're about to overtake the city, they're a surprising sight to stumble upon.

Nierozpoznani (Unrecognized) is a cluster of 112 headless, armless statues; a tangle of torsos attached to enormous legs all stepping in different directions. Tainted red with rust, their color matches that of the red-dirt walkway they seem to strut atop.

The limbs loom over the middle area of the park, making for an eerie, horror-movie like scene on foggy days when clouds of mist cloak the grounds. You can walk among the statues, which is the best way to appreciate their impressive size. They add an unsettling vibe to a park that tends to be a popular picnic spot among locals during the warmer, sunnier months.

Artist Magdalena Abakanowicz erected the iron bodies in 2002 in celebration of the 750th anniversary of Poznań’s founding. She was one of Poland’s most prominent modern artists, and has unveiled her work around the world.

The headless statues are her largest pieces of public art. Symbolically, they raise questions of where the city is coming from and where it's headed and were the artist's way of confronting a certain sense of lingering fear. 

Related Tags

Parks Statues Art Public Art

Know Before You Go

Entering the park is free. You can park on Za Cytadelą street or walk from the city center.

Community Contributors

Added By

bartlomiejnizio

Edited By

Supertravelluka

  • Supertravelluka

Published

March 13, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://culture.pl/en/work/unrecognized-magdalena-abakanowicz
  • https://goo.gl/maps/m415N3FRXPy
Nierozpoznani
aleja Braterstwa Broni
Poznań
Poland
52.421926, 16.935709
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Pomnik Jurija Gagarina w Poznaniu

Poznań, Poland

miles away

The Fighting Goats of Poznań

Poznań, Poland

miles away

Medieval Execution Pole

Poznań, Poland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Poznań

Poznań

Poland

Places 6

Nearby Places

Pomnik Jurija Gagarina w Poznaniu

Poznań, Poland

miles away

The Fighting Goats of Poznań

Poznań, Poland

miles away

Medieval Execution Pole

Poznań, Poland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Poznań

Poznań

Poland

Places 6

Related Places

  • A statue of Balto stands in a place of honor in Central Park.

    New York, New York

    Balto Statue

    This monument is dedicated to Balto, the heroic Alaskan sled dog.

  • Statue of Captain Cook inside The Lighthouse: Tū Whenua-a-Kura

    Auckland, New Zealand

    'The Lighthouse: Tū Whenua-a-Kura'

    A neon-illuminated statue of James Cook at the edge of a historical Auckland wharf makes for an unexpected discovery.

  • Knislinge, Sweden

    'Fideicommissum'

    A bronze, peeing self-portrait protests unequal inheritance rights.

  • One of the Twelve Stone faces.

    Torrig, Denmark

    Dodekalitten

    An air of mystery pervades this modern-day singing Stonehenge.

  • “Guerrero Chimalli.”

    Chimalhuacán, Mexico

    'Guerrero Chimalli'

    This controversial, abstract sculpture is meant to represent an Aztec warrior.

  • “Pennies from Heaven.” 

    Falls Church, Virginia

    'Pennies from Heaven'

    A whopping 14,000 copper coins cover this miniature fighter jet.

  • Gorditas Saleswoman.

    Xicotepec de Juárez, Mexico

    'Vendedoras de Gorditas' ('Gorditas Saleswomen')

    A tribute to a local delicacy and the women who prepare and sell it.

  • Mexico City, Mexico

    'La Mujer Chimenea' ('The Chimney Woman')

    Mexico's second-tallest monument, now half-hidden in a private residential complex.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.