Bear Statue on Mount Ślęża

On the summit of Mount Ślęża, beneath a maple tree growing by the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, stands a stone sculpture known as the "Bear". It is one of the oldest monuments in the region - it was probably created in the La Tène period, around 400-200 BC, within the Celtic culture.

An animal carved from granite

The sculpture was made of biotite granodiorite, so-called Strzegom granite. It is about 148 cm long, 47-57 cm wide and 100 cm high. It depicts a schematically rendered animal standing on four legs shaped like columns - probably a bear or a boar, as suggested by the surviving tail, which resembles that of a bear. The lower parts of the legs are broken off, and the surface of the head is damaged.

Other names and legend

Besides the name "Bear", the sources also give "She-Bear" and "Boar". A medieval legend linked the animal with the figure of Duke Peter Włostowic, and its image found its way onto the coat of arms of Sobótka, designed in 1960.

Where it came from

The sculpture was originally found in the area of Strzegomiany, and was moved to the summit of Mount Ślęża in 1903, initially placed by the newly built mountain shelter. Together with other stone animal figures from this region, it is linked to the Celtic custom of erecting statues known as verraco, also known from Spain and Portugal.

Practical information

• Address: the summit of Mount Ślęża, by the parish church in Sobótka
• Getting there: on foot via trails to the summit of the mountain, the same area as the Mount Ślęża Nature Reserve
• What to expect: a small, heavily weathered stone sculpture standing outdoors, freely accessible at all times