Wiking

Story

Wiking has sailed a very long way to reach Wrocław's Market Square. She stands at Rynek 7 on the western side of the square, a brave little warrior girl with long braids, a helmet and a round wooden shield. Legend says her longboat got lost in the fog on the Oder and she followed the smell of fresh pastries all the way to the Rynek - and decided that a square full of dwarfs was a far better adventure than any stormy sea. Crouch down beside her and you can almost hear the waves and the creak of the oars. She guards the western row of houses as proudly as if it were her own ship.

History & Significance

Wiking - also listed as Viking or Wojowniczka (the Warrior) - appeared on the Market Square on 1 March 2022. She was made by Marta Mirynowska, one of the sculptors behind many of Wrocław's best-known dwarfs. The tradition she belongs to began with the Orange Alternative, a playful protest movement of the 1980s whose members painted dwarfs on city walls; since 2005 the city has filled its streets with bronze dwarfs, and there are now well over 800 of them. Wiking is one of the newer residents of the Rynek, joining the dozens of dwarfs that make the square the busiest dwarf neighbourhood in town. Who commissioned her is not publicly documented.

Inspiration

Wiking pays tribute to the Vikings, the seafaring Scandinavian adventurers famous for their long wooden ships with dragon-headed prows. Many dwarfs in Wrocław honour a shop, company or profession, but Wiking celebrates a spirit of adventure and courage - and she is one of the relatively few girl dwarfs in the city. Her round shield and braids make her one of the most photogenic dwarfs on the western side of the square. Her Polish name, Wiking, is simply the Polish spelling of 'Viking'.

Fun Facts

• She is one of the relatively few girl dwarfs in Wrocław, and one of the few dressed as a warrior.
• Vikings gave their ships names - one famous warship was called the Long Serpent.
• Her round shield is the perfect size for a dwarf, but it would barely cover a grown-up's hand.
• Two money dwarfs, Bankuś Pieniążek and Wypłatnik, live just a few steps south of her.
• Vikings sailed boats that could travel both on the open sea and up rivers - maybe even the Oder.

How to Find This Dwarf

From the Town Hall, walk west across the square to the western row of houses (the side with the House of the Seven Electors at Rynek 8). Wiking stands at Rynek 7, just north of it, at pavement level in front of the buildings. If you are coming from Bankuś Pieniążek, walk about 20 metres north along the same row.

Nearby Dwarfs

Frequently Asked Questions

Accessibility

Wheelchair AccessibleGround LevelOutdoor

Stands at pavement level in front of the western row of houses. The Market Square is paved with cobblestones, which can be bumpy for pushchairs and wheelchairs, but the approach is flat with no steps.