Kraszewski Bench in Krynica-Zdrój

The Kraszewski Bench in the Spa Park in Krynica-Zdrój is a semicircular stone bench with a bust of the writer Józef Ignacy Kraszewski, unveiled on 1 August 1881. It stands on Edwardówka, in a spot the writer liked during his stays in the spa town.

Who made it

The bench was made in the Kraków stonemason's workshop of Fabian Hochstim to a design by Wojciech Gerson. The original plaster bust was sculpted by Franciszek Wyspiański. In 1905 it was replaced with a bronze one, cast at the Marcin Jarra foundry in Kraków.

The writer's stay in Krynica

Kraszewski came to Krynica in the summer of 1866 and stayed at the Trzy Róże guesthouse on what is now ulica Kraszewskiego. Here he wrote letters, articles and the novel "Wielki nieznajomy" (The Great Stranger), describing the life of spa visitors. On the bench are two plaques: "Zakątek J. I. Kraszewskiego" (J. I. Kraszewski's Nook) and "Pamiątka jego pobytu w roku 1866 uświęca Krynica podczas jubileuszu 1879 r." (Krynica hallows the memory of his stay in 1866 during the jubilee of 1879).

Not far away you will find the Nikifor Museum in Krynica-Zdrój.

Practical information

• Place: Spa Park, Krynica-Zdrój, in the area of Edwardówka.
• The bench is viewed outside, in the park.