Monday, May 25, 2026, 09:36
89762 readings
The statue is being built in a village in Poland PHOTO X Network/ Inspiring Poland
The tallest statue of the Virgin Mary in Europe will be inaugurated this summer in a village in Polandwhere a huge 55-meter monument is almost completed. The construction will be even taller than the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and would turn Konotopie into an important place of pilgrimage and tourist attraction.
Construction of what will become Europe’s tallest statue of the Virgin Mary in the small village of Konotopie in central Poland is nearing completion.
Work began in March last year and has now entered its final phase, with cranes still visible atop the structure as crews rush to complete construction before the monument is consecrated on August 15, tvpworld.com reports.
Taller than the statue of Christ in Brazil
Once completed, the 55-meter monument will surpass both Rio de Janeiro’s 38.5-meter Christ the King statue and Poland’s Christ the King monument in the western city of Świebodzin, which reaches 52.5 meters including the mound.
A key feature of the monument will be a viewing terrace built into the crown of the Virgin Mary, offering panoramic views of the surrounding lakes and forests.
Local officials hope the project, commissioned by local businessman Roman Karkosik and his wife, will turn the area into a major pilgrimage and tourism destination.
“A year ago, when the construction of the (Virgin Mary) monument started, it was a huge surprise for us,” said Mieczysław Grębicki, head of Konotopie village, located about 45 kilometers east of Toruń. “Nobody knew anything about it before, that such a big statue would be built in our country.”
But although Konotopie only has around 120 inhabitants, Grębicki said he is not worried about the impact of increased tourism on the environment.
“The environment is not polluted here. There is no industry nearby,” Grębicki said. “You can rest, breathe and bathe in the clean water of the lakes. It will definitely be a big attraction for tourists.”
Although the project has also sparked debate about the need for a gigantic religious monument, support in the area seems strong.
“For residents and locals, for all believers, this is definitely a very positive thing,” said another local.
Although there are larger structures of the Virgin Mary elsewhere – including the 98-meter “Mother of All Asia” shrine in the Philippines – the Konotopie monument is expected to become the tallest classical sculpture of the Virgin Mary in Europe once completed.
