Heart of Jesus, Religious statue in Harghita, Romania

The Heart of Jesus is a 22-metre stainless-steel statue of Christ with arms outstretched, standing on a two-metre concrete base on Gordon Peak. Its flared robe is made of smooth metal panels, while the open torso reveals a lattice of grey steel beams. A spiral staircase inside the structure leads up into the head, which serves as a lookout over the surrounding landscape.

The statue was designed by sculptor Walter Zawaczky, modelled on Rio de Janeiro's Cristo Redentor, and erected in December 2011 after the Protemp Foundation developed the project. A consultative body of the Harghita County chief architect's office objected in August 2011 that the structure was alien to the landscape and close to kitsch, delaying the handover. Building permits were secured by declaring the lookout's area an inner-urban zone, and it was inaugurated on 17 August 2013.

Locals call it the "Blech-Christus" (tin Christ), a nickname coined by critics of its stainless-steel build. The sculpture was modelled on Rio de Janeiro's Cristo Redentor, and villagers hope it will draw pilgrims and recover the roughly 200,000 euros raised from local firms and private donors. Its head doubles as a lookout reached by a spiral stair.

The statue is reachable via DN13A road between Praid and Odorheiu Secuiesc, with the option to walk uphill or drive to a parking area. The final stretch requires some physical effort to reach the base.

The statue's head and hands were shaped from 200 square metres of stainless steel sheet, and the builders used over 60 tonnes of steel in total. Locals call it the "Tin Christ" (Blech-Christus), a nickname coined by critics of its metal construction.