Bratislava's Street Statues
Wandering around Bratislava’s Old Town, you’re bound to bump into, or trip over, one of the city’s street statues.
I suppose everyone will have their favourite, but Cumil seems to be the most popular (see featured image above). ‘Cumil’ translates to ‘Watcher’, but what’s he watching? His head is sticking out of a manhole and some say that he’s looking up women’s skirts – who knows? He’s been run over a couple of times and so the authorities have put a ‘Man at work’ sign up. You can find Cumil at the junction of Laurinska and Panska.
Most of these statues, or sculptures, are made of bronze but there’s one that is silver (not solid silver), and his name is Schone Naci. The story goes that this poor old man, whose real name was Ignac Lamar, was besotted with a woman who didn’t give a fig about him (nothing new there then). He started to go a bit mad doing strange things like doffing his hat and greeting everybody – and for the ladies there was often a bunch of flowers as well.
People these days seem to have a habit of rubbing bronze sculptures for good luck, but whether it’s because he’s silver, or just plain unlucky I don’t know, but I didn’t see anybody rubbing poor old Schone Naci. You can see him greeting everyone on Sedlarska.
Most of these statues are supposed to be quirky, but whether the one I saw of Hans Christian Andersen on Hviezdoslav Square was meant to be I’m not sure, but I quite liked it all the same.
One of the most photographed has to be Napoleon’s Army Soldier who can be found leaning over a bench in the main square near the town hall. Napoleon and his army were in Bratislava in 1805, and one of his men, who went by the name of Hubert, fell in love with a local girl and stayed and became a wine producer. Hubert’s wine is a well-regarded sparkling wine in Slovakia today, and if it’s all true (which it could well be) then I think Hubert deserves a good rub don’t you? Not many can walk past without having their photo taken with him that’s for sure.
Another one you can’t miss is Paparazzi. With so many people photographing him, the irony of it wasn’t lost on me, because he appeared to be photographing everyone else. I’m not sure if it was meant like that because it stands, or should I say stood, outside a fabulous Italian restaurant of the same name. Unfortunately, the restaurant has left and taken their Paparazzi with them, which is a great shame on both counts.
On our arrival in Bratislava, we ate in this restaurant and we enjoyed it so much that we had our last meal in here as well. Apparently, the city authorities are trying to get the statue back because it was such a tourist attraction. The latest bit of information I have about him is that he’s now propping up the bar in the UFO Restaurant on the Novy Most.
There are more of these statues around, but I think I’ve covered the popular ones. Everyone will know that you’re a tourist if you’re spotted photographing these statues, but I bet you won’t be able to stop yourself – and who cares anyway?
POSTED – OCTOBER 2021
Originally posted 2021-10-25 11:20:52.
Wonderful. I am a big fan of ‘interactive’ statues like these. There’s a nice one at our local library of a guy sitting on a bench. He’s popular for pics too, though most of these ones all have a story.
It makes a change from a military hero or monarch doesn’t it? 🙂
That’s what I like.
Mind you, having said that I once had to haul the girls off of one in Denmark before thy pitched it into a pond.
Sorry Shey, I can’t help but say it, but you seemed to have had your work cut out with the girls 🙂
Oh yea. They were murder to take anywhere. They also got lost in Denmark. I literally let them out the door in this farm cottage in the middle of nowhere for two mins while I got something they wanted to play with and they cleared off with the farmer to see the piglets. He said to them, ‘Should you not go inside and tell your mum where you are? And is it all right?’ ‘Oh she doesn’t bother,’ said the big ane. So then the Mr and I spend 30 m ins running about back roads, delving in duck ponds while she, hearing us screeching didn’t dare own up, or say, ‘ I think mum and dad are on the verge of getting the police’. My girls were always their own women from the start and still are…..
That same one went with the Youth Theatre to Romania and was nearly kidnapped by the mafia there, I kid you not. .
OMG. They’re all memories though aren’t they?
Oh lord yeah. I think we have one horror like that for every time we went away, or they went away.
I shouldn’t really put a ‘like’ to that should I?
Ocht aye, ye should
🙂
These are brilliant, Malc! It shows they’ve got a good sense of humour over there, and that the place clearly does have character. I can see why Cumil might be the favourite, especially with the sign protecting him! I bet he puts a smile on many a face. Great stuff. 🙂
Thanks Alli. I’m glad that you enjoyed this one. It’s always good to see places put a smile on people’s faces one way or another, and Cumil is my favourite too. No doubt he would make me smile even more if I saw somebody trip over him 😊
Me too – who could resist a little giggle at that? 😀
I love the photos of the statues and the lovely stories accompanying them. You may have a real knack for this, Malc.
Thank you Pat. You have a great knowledge of words and you’re very kind with them
Another beautiful post on a town I’ve never visited
Those statues (and the potos) are gorgeous
Thank you for your kind words Luisa and I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Always a pleasure, Malc 😊❣️
🙂
No visit to Bratislava is complete without saying hello to Cumil 🙂
Absolutely! I bet he sees you before you see him 🙂
A lovely post. These statues are rather stylised and so different from the rather more literal statues we have here.
Thanks Stephen. Aren’t they just!
Great info and an interesting narrative makes for a fabulous post and with your fantastic photography, it becomes smashing! I think I featured some of those street sculptures in one of my videos…In any event, they are ultra cool my friend! Cheers and all the best to you!
Another big thank you for your generous comments Francesc. These statues/sculptures certainly brighten up the streets of Bratislava.
You’re very welcome my friend!
Ohh happy days. I saw these statues almost 20-years ago when I visited Bratislava. So glad to see they all still exist in situ.
I can see that they bring back some good memories for you 🙂