Maurycy and Hawranek Monument

The Maurycy and Hawranek Monument is a small bronze sculpture standing before the entrance to the Łódź Zoo at ul. Konstantynowska 8/10. It depicts two characters from a puppet series produced by the Se-ma-for studio and belongs to the Łódź Fairytale route, which brings together characters from animations made in Łódź across the city.

Who are Maurycy and Hawranek

They are the protagonists of a puppet series created at the Łódź-based Se-ma-for studio in the second half of the 1980s. The screenplay was based on Zbigniew Żakiewicz's book "Two Brave Ones from Plimplańskie Forest", and the series comprises thirteen episodes. The action takes place in a forest, where both characters learn about animal habits, with Maurycy approaching the world sensibly and Hawranek rather timidly. The music for the series was composed by the band Pod Budą.

The sculpture at the zoo gate

The unveiling took place on 18 May 2013, before the entrance to the municipal zoo. The figure is one metre in height and was cast in bronze, like the other sculptures on the route. It was created by Marcin Mielczarek, and the character design was prepared by Marian Kiełbaszczak. The smiling Maurycy extends his right hand in a greeting gesture towards children entering the zoo, making the sculpture a natural spot for a photograph before visiting.

A place on the Łódź Fairytale route

The route began on 24 October 2009 with the figure of Teddy Uszatek placed on Piotrkowska, and the sculpture at the zoo was the eighth on the route. The idea was modelled on the Wrocław dwarfs and conceived as a way to remind visitors that Łódź is the capital of Polish animation. The city's official tourism portal today lists ten figures, with seventeen planned originally. A stamp can be collected at each location; in this case at the zoo ticket office, and a complete set of stamps entitles the holder to a PTTK tourism badge. On foot, the nearest route to Teddy Uszatek is a few tram stops away.

What else is in the area

The sculpture stands on the edge of the park on Zdrowiu, where three major natural attractions of the city meet. Beyond the zoo gate operates Orientarium, with pavilions of Southeast Asian animals.

On the opposite side of ul. Konstantynowska stretches the Łódź Botanical Garden, and next to it the park on Zdrowiu with walking areas. Viewing the monument itself takes only a moment, so it is usually an addition to a full-day trip to this part of the Polesia region.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Konstantynowska 8/10, before the zoo ticket offices, Zdrowie-Mania estate.
• Getting there: by tram or bus heading towards Zdrowia, stops on ul. Konstantynowska right next to the zoo entrance.
• What to expect: a bronze figure one metre in height, set in the open air, accessible around the clock and free of charge, even when the zoo is closed.
• Łódź Fairytale route stamp available at the zoo ticket office during its opening hours, which are worth checking before your visit.
• Works well combined with visits to the zoo, botanical garden and the park on Zdrowiu, and further on with the monument to Ferdynand the Magnificent in the city centre.