Lviv, a city with a rich history and an extraordinary cultural heritage, had a special function during the Second Polish Republic as a place where Polish, Ukrainian and Jewish influences intersected. Between 1918 and 1939, when Lviv was part of the reborn Polish state, it became one of the country's main cultural and educational centres. During this time, many monuments appeared that not only commemorated important figures and events, but also symbolised the national identity of the Poles, reminding them of the history and values central to the city's inhabitants. In the urban space of the Second Republic there were about 20 monuments associated with Poles. Characteristically, however, apart from the "Svitezianka", which commemorated Adam Mickiewicz, the city had no monuments dedicated to distinguished women associated with Lviv. These can only be found in cemeteries and on the walls of temples.

1. monument to Adam Mickiewicz
The Adam Mickiewicz Monument is one of the most recognisable symbols of Lviv in the interwar period. It was unveiled in 1904, before the city's incorporation into Poland, and quickly gained the status of one of the most important memorials. The author of the project was Antoni Popiel, who designed the monument as a 21-metre high column topped with the figure of the poet and bas-reliefs symbolising Mickiewicz's poetic and spiritual inspiration. The monument was intended to remind Poles of patriotic values and the strength of the national spirit.

During the Second Polish Republic, the Mickiewicz Monument also served as a venue for social gatherings and patriotic celebrations that strengthened the sense of national identity among the city's residents.

2. the Józef Piłsudski Monument
. The Józef Piłsudski Monument was one of the most important symbols of the Second Polish Republic in Lviv. The monument, depicting Pilsudski in a military coat, was designed by sculptor Tadeusz Breyer and unveiled in 1936. It was placed on Strzelecki Square, near the Medical Academy.
The Pilsudski Monument was a special place of commemoration for Lviv residents and became the site of numerous celebrations of national events and state anniversaries. Unfortunately, after Lviv was occupied by the Red Army in 1939, the monument was destroyed by the Soviet authorities to symbolise the end of Polish influence in the city.

3 The Monument to Jan III Sobieski
. The monument to Jan III Sobieski, commemorating the Polish king who was born in the former Ruthenian province, is another of Lviv's symbols. The monument, designed by sculptors Tadeusz Barącz and Julian Markowski, was originally unveiled in 1898 on Akademicki Square, but after World War II, in 1950, it was moved to Gdańsk.
In the interwar period, the Sobieski monument was one of the most important symbols of Lviv, reminding of Poland's historical connection to the city and King Jan III Sobieski's role in defending Europe against Turkish invasions. The monument often became the site of patriotic celebrations.

4th Monument to the Defenders of Lviv (Orląt Cemetery)
. The Cemetery of the Defenders of Lviv is a burial place for Polish soldiers and young people who fought in the defence of Lviv in 1918-1919. During the Second Polish Republic it became one of the most important national memorials, and the cemetery itself acquired a monumental character. The city authorities and veterans' organisations invested many resources to make the Cemetery of the Eaglets a symbolic place of remembrance.
Among other things, a monumental triumphal arch and a chapel were created in the cemetery, and the graves were arranged in a manner reminiscent of military formations. The Cemetery of the Eaglets was the site of numerous patriotic ceremonies and a place visited by locals and tourists alike to pay tribute to the fallen.

5th Monument to Franciszek Smolka
The monument to Franciszek Smolka, a well-known politician and patriot, was one of the most important initiatives commemorating a distinguished Lviv resident during the Second Polish Republic. Smolka was an exceptional figure, involved in the struggle for the national and social rights of Poles during the partitions. Among other things, he was Chairman of the Austrian Council of State, which made him a symbol of political steadfastness and an advocate of the Polish cause in the international arena.
The monument, designed by sculptor Tadeusz Błotnicki, was unveiled in 1913 at the High Castle, a place Smolka particularly cherished. The monument depicts Smolka standing with his hand outstretched in the gesture of a statesman speaking, his stature symbolising his courage and determination to fight for freedom and justice.
During the Second Republic, the site was popular with Lvivians and tourists alike. The monument to Franciszek Smolka, like many others, disappeared from Lviv's landscape after the Second World War.

6 Monument to Jan Kilinski
. The monument to Jan Kilinski, the legendary hero of the Kościuszko Uprising and symbol of the patriotism of the Polish people, also found its place in Lviv during the Second Polish Republic. Jan Kilinski, a Warsaw shoemaker who played a key role in the fight for Poland's independence, became for Lviv citizens the embodiment of the fighting spirit and determination of ordinary people in striving for freedom.
The monument, unveiled in 1921, was created on the initiative of local patriotic circles as a tribute to the folk hero. The design was made by the well-known sculptor Tadeusz Barącz, who depicted Kilinski in a dynamic pose with his sabre raised, symbolising his steadfastness and readiness to fight. The sculpture stood in a district inhabited mainly by craftsmen and workers.
The Jan Kilinski monument was the site of patriotic celebrations on the anniversaries of the Kościuszko Uprising. It attracted the attention of both residents and visitors to the city.
See more about the monument in the text by Agnieszka Bukowczan-Rzeszut

7th Monument to the Fallen Soldiers of the 5th Field Artillery Regiment
The monument to the fallen soldiers of the 5th Field Artillery Regiment in Lviv was an important element commemorating the sacrifice and dedication of the soldiers of this regiment. It was unveiled in 1928, on the regiment's tenth anniversary, on the grounds of the barracks on Lychakivska Street.
Unfortunately, after World War II, as a result of political and administrative changes, the monument was destroyed and its remains were removed.

8th Monument to Stanisław Jabłonowski
. The monument to Stanislaw Jablonowski in Lviv was the oldest secular monument in the city, commemorating the Grand Crown Hetman who defended Lviv against the Tatar invasion in 1695.
The sculpture, made of sandstone, depicted the hetman in ceremonial armour, holding a mace in his right hand and a cloak falling to the ground in his left hand, which provided structural support for the statue.
The statue was originally located at the Jesuit College, but was overthrown after the occupation of Lviv by Austria. In 1859, the statue was found and after a public collection in 1861, it was placed on the main street of the city, later known as Hetman's Bulwarks.
In 1932, the statue was moved to the square at Plac Trybunalski, near the Jesuit church, where it stood until 1944. After the Red Army occupied the city, the monument disappeared in unknown circumstances.

9th Monument to the Defenders of Lviv at the Technical University
. The Monument to the Defenders of Lviv at the Lviv Polytechnic was an important memorial to the students and staff of the university who died fighting for Lviv in 1918-1920. Unveiled on 22 November 1925, the monument was located in the garden of the Polytechnic on the side of Zacharewicza Street.
The design of the monument by Wincenty Rawski depicted a bas-relief of an archangel and a sculpture of an eagle with cubs on top. A plaque with the names of the fallen was placed on the back of the monument. The initiative to build the monument was supported by professors and rectors of the Lviv Polytechnic, who financed its creation.
Unfortunately, the monument has not survived to the present day. It was destroyed after the Second World War, and its traces were deliberately and ruthlessly obliterated.

10. the Kornel Ujejski Memorial
The Kornel Ujejski Monument is a bust commemorating the eminent Polish Romantic poet, author of the "Chorale" ("With the Smoke of Fires"), among others. The monument was unveiled on 8 December 1901 in Lviv, in front of the Municipal Casino on Akademicka Street. The author of the sculpture was Lviv artist Antoni Popiel.
After the Second World War, in 1950, the monument was handed over to Poland. Initially, it was placed in a depository of national memorabilia in the Wilanów park in Warsaw. On 27 November 1956, it was moved to Szczecin, where it stood on Zwycięstwa Square, next to the Port Gate. The official unveiling at the new location took place on 9 December 2006, on the 105th anniversary of the unveiling of the original monument.
The monument features a bronze bust of Kornel Ujejski, set on a granite plinth. The pedestal features a bronze lyre with torn shackles, symbolising the liberating power of poetry, and the title page of the 'Chorale'. The front of the plinth bears the inscription 'Kornel Ujejski' and the back a quotation: "My nation be happy".

11th Memorial to Agenor Gołuchowski
The monument to Agenor Golukhovsky in Lviv commemorated a prominent politician and governor of Galicia, who held this position in 1849-1859, 1866-1868 and 1871-1875. The monument was unveiled in 1901 on the edge of the Municipal Garden (formerly the Jesuit Garden), at the exit of Trzeciego Maja Street, now known as November Deed Street.
The author of the monument was the sculptor Julian Markowski. The monument depicted the figure of Agenor Goluchowski in a dignified pose, symbolising his services to the region. The monument became one of the characteristic elements of the Lviv cityscape.
After World War II, as a result of political and administrative changes, the monument was dismantled by the Soviet authorities. Today, where it once stood, there is a park named after Ivan Franko.

12th Monument to Aleksander Fredro
. The monument to Aleksander Fredro, commemorating the outstanding Polish comedy writer, was unveiled in Lviv in 1897. The author of the sculpture was the sculptor Leonard Marconi. The monument depicted Fredro sitting in an armchair, with a thoughtful expression on his face, symbolising his creative stance as the author of numerous comedies and satirical works.
The monument stood in Lviv until the Second World War, when in 1950 it was moved to Wrocław, where it was placed on Uniwersytecki Square (now Aleksander Fredro Square). The decision to move the monument was part of a wider resettlement effort that took place after Poland's borders changed.
The monument to Aleksander Fredro depicts the writer sitting in an ornate armchair in a dignified, thoughtful pose. Fredro is dressed in an elegant tailcoat, with one leg folded over the other, and in his hands he holds a notebook and pen, symbolising his creative activities. The writer's face is calm and focused, and the whole piece conveys an atmosphere of intellectual reverie. The armchair on which Fredro sits is decorated in the classicist style, which gives the monument an elegant and solemn look.

13th Monument to Bartosz Glowacki
. The monument to Bartosz Glowacki in Lviv depicted the famous peasant hero of the Kościuszko Uprising, captured in a dynamic, fighting pose. Głowacki held a spade in his hands, symbolising his courage and deed at the Battle of Racławice, where he became famous as a hero. The sculpture was full of expression, and the figure of Glowacki was dressed in simple peasant garb, emphasising his background and dedication to the national cause. The entire monument exudes strength and patriotic fervour, which was the main message of this composition.
See more about the monument in the text by Dorota Janiszewska-Jakubiak

14th Monument to Teofil Wiśniowski and Józef Kapuściński
The monument commemorated Teofil Wiśniowski and Józef Kapuściński, independence activists, symbolising their sacrifice in the fight for freedom.
See more about the monument in the text by Dorota Janiszewska-Jakubiak

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Other monumental objects
Column of St. John of Dukla, Bernardine Square The Column of St. John of Dukla, erected in 1736 by the Volyn voivode Severyn Michal Rzewuski, commemorates the Bernardine who, according to tradition, saved Lviv from the Tatar invasion. The author of the sculpture was probably Sebastian Fesinger or Tomasz Huter. The statue of the saint was removed in the 1950s.

The "Svitezianka" fountain, Halytska Square The "Svitezianka" fountain, depicting a nymph from a ballad by Adam Mickiewicz, was created in 1880 on the site of a former well, and was designed by Tadeusz Błotnicki. A sculpture depicting a boy was placed in its place in the 1950s, followed by the abstract sculpture 'Dandelion' in the early 1970s, but it was removed during archaeological and construction work and did not return to its place after its completion in 2023. An outline of the location of the 19th-century fountain is marked on the pavement

Monuments in Lviv during the Second Polish Republic served not only as memorials, but also as symbols of the national identity of Poles, emphasising the city's links with Polish history. They were important elements of urban space that commemorated both literary figures, national heroes and local events. Although many of them were destroyed or relocated after World War II, their history is still an integral part of Lviv's heritage and a reminder of the difficult but hopeful years of the Second Polish Republic.

Reproduced by Bartłomiej Gutowski