Wroclaw may possibly be one of Poland’s most charming and picturesque cities. Nestled both alongside and within the Oder, its centre contains 12 islands connected by 130 bridges. A rainbow of pastel-coloured buildings surrounds one of Europe’s largest medieval squares, towering gothic spires rise skywards, and each night a lamplighter sporting a dapper cape and top hat combo traipses the cobblestones to ignite the city’s street lights. If this isn’t enough fairytale imagery for you, then Wroclaw has something else up its sleeve; Dwarves.
You may just spot one to start with – a little bronze guy snoozing in a doorway or enjoying a meal outside a popular restaurant – but before long you will find that they are everywhere. In Wroclaw’s city centre this legion of little people, known locally as Krasnale, are ubiquitous. You are just as likely to stub your toe and trip over one as you are to spy one relaxing on a window ledge. They clamber up lampposts, peek from alleyways and even pass out in a drunken stupor on the streets.
Although it may sound like I am hallucinating or living in a delusional fantasy world, Wroclaw’s dwarves are a real thing. Standing at no more than a foot-tall, these little bronze characters ooze personality, each with their own character, detailed backstory and reason for existing. The official figure says that there are around 160 of these pint-sized figurines, but my research suggests that the number varies wildly. Some people say there are more than likely 300 of them, other sources suggest that over 400 are dotted around. Whatever the number is, it seems that these critters are running rampant.
while these statues appear to just be a cute and slightly twee gimmick to attract tourists, they actually have a deeper meaning that harks back to a darker period in recent Polish history.
The statues are a nod to the Orange Alternative, an anti-Soviet movement that used absurdity to stage peaceful and subversive protests in an attempt to undermine Poland’s communist government. Led by art student Waldemar ‘Major’ Fydrych, the group claimed the dwarf as its symbol, painting surrealist images – usually of a dwarf or gnome – over communist propaganda in an attempt to fight the oppressive regime’s censorship of free speech and public gatherings. The idea was to “show how absurd the situation was and encourage people not to be afraid.”
Over time, the movement became larger and the dwarf imagery gained popularity. Before long, they became an integral part of demonstrations. Fydrych led marches through Wroclaw’s streets in the name of ‘dwarves rights’. On International Children’s Day in 1988, dozens of locals dressed as gnomes. At an anti-Chernobyl protest, the mayor even handed out peaked orange gnome hats to passing pedestrians. At an event known now as the ‘Revolution of Dwarves’, the movement culminated with 10,000 protestors marching on the city centre wearing conical hats and chanting “Freedom for the dwarves!”.
Despite the Police trying to crack down on the protests, the subsequent arresting of gnomes only succeeded in making the authorities look ridiculous.
Following the fall of communism, the dwarves became a symbol of Wroclaw, repurposed as a tribute to the Orange Alternative protesters. The first statue to honour the anti-communist movement, known as Papa Krasnal, was unveiled in 2001 on the corner of ul. Świdnicka and ul. Kazimierza Wielkiego, the spot where many of the Orange Alternative’s protests took place.
It wasn’t until 2005 that things really started to take off. Local artist, Tomasz Moczek was commissioned by the council to create 5 more characters; the Odra-Washer-Dwarf near Piaskowy Bridge, a hatchet-wielding butcher outside the old medieval slaughterhouse, a fencer, and two of the little guys pushing a large boulder in opposite directions on Świdnicka Street. The figurines proved so popular that soon local businesses were commissioning artists to produce more. Before long, there was a gnome population explosion.
So far, Tomasz has created over 100 dwarves for local charities, shops, and organisations. While the official figure stands at 163, it is thought that over 400 of these little blighters are running rampant around the city. This is because there are many ‘illegal dwarves’. The official process for businesses to get their own gnome can be a long and expensive process. Not all companies are willing to go through it.
But why bother at all? For many businesses, it is seen as a great advertising tool. Tourists are far more likely to visit a shop and part with their money if they are stopping by to spot a particular dwarf. You can find one withdrawing money from a miniature cashpoint outside a bank or appearing to steal pastries from a bakery. There is even a bronze figurine in a branch of KFC, sitting atop a family bucket while devouring a chicken leg.
Wroclaw’s smallest residents have become so popular with visiting tourists that the official tourist office has created an official website where you can get to know them better, read their backstories and find out about their unique personalities. There is even a map available that takes you on a fantastical gnome hunt as you explore the city. On my last morning in Wroclaw, I stood alongside the Oder and unfurled my map, beginning my quirky scavenger hunt.
It didn’t take long to stumble across my first crouched beside the river and leaning over the bank, washing its laundry in the water. As I crossed Tumski bridge towards Ostrów Tumski there was another hanging from a street lamp. Further still was a happy chap sitting beside a bistro, gleefully spooning soup into his mouth.
While a dwarf hunt can be an incredibly fun alternative to more traditional sightseeing, it is impossible for a short-term visitor to find them all. As well as the sheer number of statues, many are hidden away in places that cannot be visited by the average tourist, such as government buildings or private offices. Six of them are located outside of the city in Biskupice Podgórne at an LG plant. My recommendation is to ditch that map and explore without it. There is so much more joy to be found in stumbling upon an unexpected critter than there is in searching for it.
In the 16 years since Papa Krasnal first appeared, the mischievous miniatures have come to represent more than just the Orange Alternative. Whether that’s the bride and groom smooching outside the city’s marriage registration office, the bearded workaholic typing away at his laptop, or the construction worker steering his tiny bronze excavator, they are a fun and joyful representation of every facet of life in Wroclaw.
Disclaimer: Part of my trip to Wroclaw was facilitated by Visit Wroclaw, however, all opinions expressed are my own..
Some photographs used in this post come courtesy of Visit Wroclaw
One Response
Is it possible to purchase a replica of any of the Wroclaw Dwarfs either in the United States or in Poland, then have it shipped to the USA?