A new bronze monument depicting Mieszko I and the pregnant Duchess Dobrawa has been unveiled on an island at Lake Jelonek in Gniezno, Poland. The sculpture, created by artist Rafał Nowak, is part of the city's developing Royal Route.
The artwork depicts the historical couple in the year 967, just as Mieszko I prepared for a military campaign and Dobrawa awaited the birth of their son, Bolesław Chrobry, who would become the first crowned King of Poland. The monument serves to highlight the significant role of women in Polish history, with Dobrawa being the first woman featured on the Royal Route.
City authorities hope the monument will become a site of local superstition to boost tourism. Mayor Michał Powałowski expressed the hope that couples struggling to conceive might visit the monument to touch Dobrawa's belly for good luck, potentially addressing national demographic challenges through symbolic tourism.
Entities
Bolesław Chrobry · Dobrawa · Gniezno · Mieszko I · Rafał Nowak