Hygieia monument in Poznań

The Hygieia monument in Poznań features a green bronze statue of a seated goddess holding a bowl, positioned above an ornate well structure. The piece combines careful metalwork with the practical design of a 19th-century water source located on Plac Wolności.

Edward Raczyński commissioned the monument in 1841 as part of modernizing Poznań's water system. Sculptor Albert Wolff created the work, incorporating features of Raczyński's wife into the design while establishing a lasting artistic mark on the city's infrastructure history.

The monument displays the Greek goddess Hygieia, standing here as a symbol of the importance of clean water to the city. Visitors can see how this figure represents the connection between water access and public well-being in European urban life.

The well sits on the central square next to the Raczyński Library and is easily reached via paved paths. The site is lit and the structure is visible at any time, making it simple for visitors to stop by casually.

The monument was relocated several times across the city before finding its current location in 1971. This moving history reflects how urban priorities shifted and the square's role in the city changed over the decades.