Miś Uszatek Monument

At ulica Piotrkowska 87 stands a small bronze monument to Miś Uszatek, one of the most recognisable characters in Polish children's fairy tales. The sculpture weighs 60 kilogrammes and is approximately one metre in height, with a characteristic detail being the bear's single folded ear.

Miś Uszatek on Piotrkowska

The monument was unveiled on 24 October 2009, and its creators were Magdalena Walczak and Marcin Mielczarek, the same sculptors who created the monument to Filemona and Bonifacego in another part of the city. The sculpture is the tenth in the Łódź Bajkowa cycle, dedicated to characters from the legacy of the Se-ma-for animation studio in Łódź.

History of the character before World War II

Miś Uszatek was created on 6 March 1957 by writer Czesław Janczarski together with illustrator Zbigniew Rychlicki, initially as a character in short stories. It was only later that true popularity came with an animated series broadcast from 1975 onwards, comprising 104 episodes. A QR code has been placed by the monument, allowing viewers to watch all episodes following digital restoration.

The building at number 87

The building next to which the monument stands was erected in 1893 according to designs by Alwill Jankau. During the interwar period, a haberdashery shop run by the Schwalbe brothers operated there, one of many commercial premises that gave Piotrkowska the character of Łódź's main shopping street.

One of the stops on the monument route

Miś Uszatek is one of ten sculptures in the Łódź Bajkowa cycle, so a walk along Piotrkowska can become a short expedition tracing characters from the Se-ma-for studio. The monument stands directly by the pavement of the city's main shopping street, so it is passed by anyone taking a walk through the centre of Łódź, regardless of whether they are specifically looking for this particular sculpture.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Piotrkowska 87, Śródmieście, Łódź
• How to get there: city centre, main shopping street, accessible by public transport
• What to expect: small bronze sculpture by the pavement, QR code with television episodes, accessible twenty-four hours a day
• Nearby you will also find the Museum of Cinematography, which documents the achievements of Łódź animation studios