Wisent monument in Zambrów, Bronze statue in Zambrów, Poland.
The Wisent monument in Zambrów is a bronze statue depicting a European bison in realistic detail, standing approximately 180 centimeters tall. The sculpture is positioned in a public location and captures the imposing anatomy of this large forest animal.
The bronze bison was designed by artist Jerzy Piechnik and cast by the ART-ODLEW artistic metal foundry in Opole. It was unveiled on 6 August 2008 in the presence of mayor Kazimierz Jan Dąbrowski, city authorities and residents, with music by the Zambrowska Kapela Eli. On 28 September 2008 the bison received the name "Zambruś" in a ceremony whose godmother was retired teacher Krystyna Rzodkiewicz.
The bison appears in Zambrów's coat of arms (a bison head on a red field) and on the town flag. The name Zambrów derives from the Old Polish word "ząbr", meaning a place where bison stay, and a legend links the town's founding to Prince Konrad I of Mazovia encountering a bison. Residents chose the name "Zambruś" for the statue by plebiscite; the name plate lies on the pavement in front of it.
The statue stands on a cobblestone circle at the junction of Kościuszki, Świętokrzyska and Piłsudskiego streets, by the Roman Dmowski roundabout and the Jabłonka reservoir. Benches, cascading flower beds and trees surround it, including a spruce decorated each year for Christmas. The square opens onto the reservoir and the facade of the Holy Trinity church.
The bison is not the only one in town: smaller bison figures mark the way to a food outlet on Józef Piłsudski Street. Look also for lion motifs on Zambrów's buildings, including a fountain with three lions on the market square.
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