Europe’s tallest statue of the Virgin Mary is inaugurated in a small Polish village

A monumental statue of the Virgin Mary, believed to be Europe's tallest, was unveiled in the tiny Polish village of Konotopie on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Financed by one of Poland's wealthiest entrepreneurs, Roman Karkosik, the statue dominates the rural landscape, standing 55.6 meters (182 feet) high. This includes a 15-meter (49-foot) pedestal in the form of a crown.

To put its height into perspective, it exceeds the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which stands at 38 meters (125 feet) including its pedestal, and also surpasses the recent Christ the King statue in Swiebodzin, Poland, which is 52 meters (170 feet) tall. While there exists a larger Virgin Mary statue in the Philippines, measuring 98 meters (322 feet), the new Polish monument holds the distinction of being the largest of its kind on the continent.

The village of Konotopie, with a population of less than 150, is predominantly Catholic. The Catholic Church played a significant role in Polish society following the fall of communism in 1989, drawing considerable prestige from its support for the anti-communist opposition. As the birthplace of St. John Paul II, who served as Pope from 1978 until his death in 2005, Poland has historically been deeply influenced by the Church.

Although religious influence in public life has waned in recent years, particularly among younger populations and urban dwellers, the Church continues to hold sway, especially in rural areas and among older generations. The statue was commissioned by the affluent Karkosik family, who reside in a nearby palace.