Polonia Restituta on Gubałówka

Polonia Restituta is a sculpture by Franciszek Masiak depicting a woman who symbolises reborn Poland. It stands on the summit of Gubałówka in Zakopane and was created for the Paris World Exhibition in 1937.

From Paris to Gubałówka

The sculpture crowned the Polish pavilion at the “Arts and Techniques” exhibition in Paris in 1937. The author received a silver medal for it. The allegory of joy at regained independence carried particular weight, because the pavilion stood next to the German and Soviet ones. After the exhibition the sculpture was taken to Zakopane, and in 1938, when a funicular railway was built up to Gubałówka and a restaurant opened, it was placed on the summit.

Conservation

In 2012, after conservation work, the sculpture was shown at an exhibition about the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts at the Zachęta gallery in Warsaw, after which it returned to Gubałówka. According to a researcher, Masiak also made a dozen or so miniatures of this work, which were given to prominent people.

Practical information

• Place: the summit of Gubałówka in Zakopane.
• The sculpture stands outdoors and viewing it is free, unless there are other restrictions at the site.