The Nicolaus Copernicus Monument stands on Krakowskie Przedmieście in central Warsaw, in front of Staszic Palace. The bronze sculpture shows the astronomer seated with an astrolabe, with a bronze solar-system design set into the pavement nearby. Look closely at the statue’s scale and detail, then take in the palace backdrop. It makes a straightforward stop on a walk through the city centre and along the Royal Route; there is no ticket or entry gate.
A monument in front of Staszic Palace
The monument stands outside Staszic Palace, which houses the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its position on Krakowskie Przedmieście places it along a central Warsaw route, where it can be included in a walk through the city.
The sculpture was designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen in 1822 and completed in 1830. A plaster model made in 1822 and a smaller study from 1821 are held at the Thorvaldsen Museum in Copenhagen.
Copernicus and the pavement design
The seated bronze figure holds an astrolabe. In front of the statue, a bronze solar-system design is embedded in the pavement, giving the memorial a detail to look for beyond the main sculpture.
The monument has a difficult history: it was vandalised by the Nazis. Its setting and the sculpture’s craftsmanship are reasons to pause and look closely, even on a brief walk through the centre.
Perguntas frequentes
Is there an entry fee for the Nicolaus Copernicus Monument?
No ticket is needed to see the statue.
Where is the Nicolaus Copernicus Monument?
It is on Krakowskie Przedmieście in front of Staszic Palace in central Warsaw.
What should I look for at the monument?
The sculpture shows Copernicus holding an astrolabe. There is also a bronze solar-system design set into the pavement in front of it.
