The Sculpture and Its Creators

The monument was designed by Julian Markowski (1846–1903), a prominent Lviv sculptor, but he died before completing the work. His student Grzegorz Kuźniewicz (Hryhoriy Kuznevych, 1871–1948), originally trained in the stonemason workshops of Bruśno whose tradition stretched back to the sixteenth century, finished the sculpture. The ceremonial unveiling took place on 9 July 1906, preceded by a Mass and drawing a large patriotic gathering reported across Lviv's press.↗↗

The composition is deliberately dramatic: a tall, irregular pedestal built from rough broken stone rises from the park hillside, and atop it Głowacki stands on a cannon barrel, scythe held at his side, left hand raised skyward. The effect makes the peasant hero seem to emerge from the living rock itself.↗↗

A Rare Survivor of Polish Lviv

Unlike many Polish-era monuments in Lviv that were dismantled by Soviet authorities or relocated to cities in post-war Poland, the Głowacki monument remained in place. Its survival owed much to the hero's peasant origins: a scytheman who fought against imperial Russia fit comfortably within the Soviet narrative of class struggle. The same logic preserved nearby monuments to Jan Kiliński and Teofil Wiśniowski.↗↗

In the 1990s the monument suffered repeated vandalism and deterioration. The original 1906 plaque had long been lost. A replacement was installed bearing the inscription "To Bartosz Głowacki, hero of Racławice, from the craftsmen of Lviv MCMV" in both Polish and Ukrainian. Full conservation was completed in the summer of 2016, funded by Poland's Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and carried out by a team led by conservator Anna Sztymelska-Karczewska.↗↗

Setting in Lychakivskyi Park

Lychakivskyi Park was laid out in 1892 by Arnold Röhring, Lviv's celebrated park inspector, on sandy heights dotted with Black Pines, birches, maples, and linden trees. The Głowacki monument stands on the high ridge at the park's upper edge along Lychakivska Street. Until the Second World War the park itself bore his name — it was officially called Głowacki Park.↗

The park sits at the junction of Lychakivska and Pasichna streets, surrounded by the famous Lychakiv Cemetery, the Glory Hill Memorial Park, and sports facilities including the SKIF Stadium. Winding paths up the ridge offer repeated views toward Castle Hill and the Lviv city center skyline, making the monument a natural stopping point on a longer walk through one of the city's greenest and most tranquil neighborhoods.↗↗

Visiting Tips

The monument is visible from below through the trees, where the raised hand, scythe, and diagonal of the cannon read clearly. Moving along the park path toward the base lets you appreciate how the massive stone pedestal dominates the composition while the bronze figure silhouettes against the pine canopy. In late autumn, winter, and early spring, the open crowns provide wider sightlines from the lower alleys.↗

The park is accessible by tram line 2 to the terminal stop at Pasichna Street, or by marshrutka routes from nearby bus stops. The ground is sandy and sloping, so sturdy footwear is advisable — especially after rain. The monument itself stands at the park's Lychakivska Street edge and is open for viewing at any hour. A visit pairs well with a walk to the Lychakiv Cemetery, just steps away, or the Intercession Cathedral visible from across the street.↗↗

The monument is free to visit and sits within a public park that is good for families. It is a compact but emotionally powerful landmark, worth fifteen minutes if you are already exploring Lviv's eastern neighborhoods, and considerably more rewarding when combined with the surrounding park walks and nearby cemetery.↗