Zalău, Statue Wesslényi

GPS Coordinates:
47.17869 N, 23.05628 E

The imposing bronze statue of Wesselényi Miklós is placed on a pedestal plated with white marble tile. The statue represents a scene of the revolution from1848, in which a peasant expresses his gratitude for Count Wesselényi for eliminating serfdom. The statue was conceived by sculptor Fadrusz János, made in the Beschorner workshops from Újpesti and uncovered in 18th of September 1902.

In that festive day nobody thought that the statue of Fadrusz will have such a tumultuous history. After no more than 30 years the statue begins to be challenged and in 1935 was lowered from the pedestal and dragged with an ox to the penitentiary building. As a result of the Viena dictate the statue was replaced in 1942. After the war the statue was declared a class enemy and surrounded with a wooden fence painted in red and used as advertising hanger. Here are posted the lists with kulaks and at a time the image of Tito appears here too holding an ax in his bloody hand.

Finally the statue regained its initial prestige. Now the city inhabitants remind themselves about Wesselényi MIklós, the crowns and the Romanian flag and the Hungarian too were together on the statue's base.

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