Weterynarz

Story

Weterynarz — known officially as Roszek — is one of the most celebrated dwarfs in all of Wroclaw. Dressed in a white doctor's coat, wooden clogs, and a dwarf cap with a laryngoscope mirror tilted upward, he bends over a small dog with great concentration, checking the animal's lymph nodes. Legend has it that Roszek never takes a day off: rain or shine, he is always at his post, ready to examine every four-legged patient who happens to wander past. The name Roszek is a diminutive of Roch — the patron saint of veterinarians — so this little healer carries the blessing of a saint in every gentle touch of his bronze paws.

History & Significance

Roszek was unveiled on 6 December 2014 at the main entrance to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, ul. Norwida 29. He was funded by the National Council of the Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons to mark the 70th anniversary of the faculty. The idea came from veterinarian Maria Tonder, who proposed that vets from across Poland club together to honour their profession. The pedestal was funded by the faculty dean, Professor Krzysztof Kubiak. The sculptor was Tomasz Moczek, the artist behind the majority of Wroclaw's bronze dwarfs.

Inspiration

The dwarf represents the veterinary profession in all its depth: the coat stands for clinical care, the clogs for practicality in the clinic, the laryngoscope mirror for precision diagnostics. The dog at his side symbolises the ancient bond of loyalty between humans and animals. Roszek's left sleeve bears the inscription 'Roszek Lekarz Weterynarii 2014'. In a 'Gazeta Wroclawska' public vote, Roszek was chosen as the most important dwarf in the city, securing almost 10,000 votes — enough to earn him a spot on the priciest square of the Wroclaw edition of Monopoly Junior.

Fun Facts

• Roszek won a city-wide popularity contest with almost 10,000 votes, beating dozens of rival dwarfs to claim the top spot on the Wroclaw Monopoly Junior board.
• His name is a diminutive of Saint Roch, the patron saint of veterinary medicine — so a holy blessing is literally baked into his bronze frame.
• The small dog at Roszek's feet symbolises the ancient friendship between humans and animals, as well as the vet's duty to protect both animal and human health.
• Funded by veterinarians from across all of Poland, Roszek is one of the rare dwarfs whose creation was a truly national effort rather than a single local sponsor.
• A tiny laryngoscope mirror sits tilted up on his dwarf cap — the kind of detail you only spot when you crouch down to his level.

How to Find This Dwarf

Head to ul. Norwida 29, the main building of Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Roszek stands right by the main entrance, so you can't miss him. From the Galeria Dominikanska tram stop, take any tram toward Plac Grunwaldzki and walk about 700 m south along ul. Norwida.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Accessibility

Wheelchair AccessibleGround LevelOutdoor

Flat paved area directly in front of the university building entrance. Fully accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs.