Wroclaw Poland - Part 2

 

Dwarves, dwarves everywhere!

They are called dwarves, gnomes or krasnale. In this post they will be dwarves.    

In Wroclaw in the 1980s, there was an underground movement opposing the Communist regime in Poland. It was called the Orange Alternative. Some of their methods were to paint dwarves where authorities had whitewashed anti-government graffiti and to wear orange dwarf hats during marches. Their playful, satirical protests seemed less intimidating and made the government's hard-line stance more obvious. After Communism fell, dwarves became not only a symbol of the Orange Alternative but also a reminder of Wroclaw's spirit and unique history. 

In 2001, the first statue (Papa Krasnal) was installed. Since then, hundreds more little bronze dwarves have appeared throughout the city. They are smaller than Papa Krasnal, generally about 8 to 12 inches high, though some are smaller. While exploring the city, it is a fun activity to spot them wherever you happen to be. These little guys added a  pleasant bonus to sightseeing. Below are some that I discovered in my travels. Keep in mind that this is just a small sample of the many that are are scattered around the city.

This is Papa Krasnal, the first bronze gnome statue

                                                                                                                    

                                       

             

                                                                               

                           

                                                                   
     

                 

Look closely for the Lamplighter Gnome
 (it is on the bridge to Cathedral Island)

Life-size gnome at the Nicolaus Copernicus Wroclaw Airport 
This is a modern enlarged version of the little ones in the city.

 

Monument in Honor of Slaughtered Animals

This group of bronze sculptures is located on Stare Jatki (Old Butchers'

Street). It is a tribute to the animals that were slaughtered there over the years. This small medieval street was where people bought their meat from the butchers. Now it is a touristy area with art galleries and restaurants.

While on the subject of animals, here is an odd sculpture located in Wroclaw's Old Town. It is a crocodile being lifted by a red balloon tied on his snout outside Kalambur theater/bar. 

Coming Up Next - Cathedral Island