A provincial town in Poland is to have the largest statue of the Virgin Mary in Europe. With a height of 55 metres, it would also tower over a well-known statue of Christ in the country, according to the plans of the wealthy owner.
Newsroom (30/01/2025 13:53, Gaudium Press) A provincial town in Poland is set to construct the largest Virgin Mary statue in Europe. With a planned height of 55 meters, it will surpass the well-known Christ the King statue in Świebodzin, according to the project’s wealthy benefactor.
Plans for Europe’s Largest Virgin Mary Statue
Roman Karkosik, one of Poland’s wealthiest individuals, along with his wife Grazyna, intends to erect a 55-meter-high statue of the Virgin Mary in his hometown of Kikol, located 170 kilometers northwest of Warsaw. Mayor Renata Golebiewska has confirmed that the small town has authorized the construction.
Beyond Existing European Marian Monuments
The proposed statue aims to be the largest in Europe, exceeding the 35-meter-tall Our Lady of the Sacred Heart near Miribel in western France, which was erected over 80 years ago. Globally, the tallest Virgin Mary statue stands in the Philippines, measuring more than 90 meters.
Timeline
Scheduled for completion in 2026, the Polish statue will feature a 40-meter-high sculpture atop a 15-meter-high pedestal shaped like a crown. Existing buildings on the site near the Marian shrine in the village of Konotopie will be demolished to make way for the monument.
A Growing Trend
Approximately 15 years ago, Poland garnered attention with the construction of a giant Christ the King statue in Świebodzin, western Poland. Including its base, that statue reaches 52 meters, making it slightly smaller than the planned Virgin Mary monument in Kikol.
This ambitious project reflects a growing trend of monumental religious sculptures in Poland, highlighting the country’s rich Catholic heritage and the dedication of its patrons.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from katholisch.de
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