Kutnowskie Lwiątka Reserve

Kutnowskie lwiątka (the Kutno lion cubs) are not a nature reserve, but a set of miniature lion sculptures placed at several locations around Kutno. The name refers to the lion on the city's coat of arms, and the figures themselves were created in 2024 as a project of Kutno's Civic Budget, submitted by resident Leszek Szary.

Origins of the lions

The project won in the tenth edition of Kutno's Civic Budget, and the idea's author is resident Leszek Szary. The reference to a lion is not coincidental: this animal appears on Kutno's coat of arms, so the sculptures were intended to remind residents of this symbol in the city's public space.

Who created the sculptures

The figurines were designed and created by artist Michał Batkiewicz. The lions do not repeat a single design: among them are a lion reading a book, a lion playing baseball, a lion musician and a lion dressed as a railway worker, each referencing a different association with the city or its history.

What the route is like

The sculptures are not located in one place, but are scattered across various points in Kutno, making them more of an urban walking trail than a single attraction at one address. Finding successive lions resembles a treasure hunt and works well as a walk with children through the city centre. The exact number of figurines and their locations may change, so the trail is best treated as an open, developing collection rather than a closed set of points.

Popularity and vandalism

The lions quickly won the affection of children and tourists visiting Kutno, becoming a popular subject for photographs in the city's public space. There have also been instances of damage to individual sculptures, which residents have publicly protested against.

Practical information

• Location: sculptures placed at various points throughout Kutno, with no single shared address
• Getting there: walking tour through the city centre, free access and open 24 hours
• What to expect: several small individual lion sculptures in various poses, scattered throughout the city rather than at a single point on the map
• Tip: before visiting it is worth checking the current number and location of the figurines, as the collection keeps growing