In all probability, Fryderyk Chopin did not expect that a monument to him would be erected in Warsaw – and become one of the capital’s most well-known symbols. The massive form by Wacław Szymanowski was designed to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the composer’s birthday.
The monument was unveiled in 1926 in the Łazienki Royal Park.This palace and garden complex was developed in the 18th century as the summer residence of Stanisław August, the last king of Poland. The park was named after one of the first edifices erected within – a baroque bathing pavilion. The picturesque Baths Palace, or Palace on the Isle (Pałac Na Wyspie), its two bridges connecting it to the remaining part of the park, is a particularly noteworthy location.
For more than fifty years, Chopin concerts have been held at the foot of the monument. Eminent pianists perform every Sunday from mid-May until late September. These concerts are tremendously popular with tourists and residents of Warsaw alike.
