Wojciech Belon Bench, Busko-Zdrój

In front of the Busko Municipal Cultural Centre, on a concrete bench shaped like the neck of a guitar, sits a bronze Wojciech Belon with his instrument — the bard of the Ponidzie region and founder of the band Wolna Grupa Bukowina. A phrase from one of his songs, "kraina łagodności" ("land of gentleness"), gave its name to an entire movement of Polish poetic and travel song. The bench was unveiled on 20 September 2008 and has been a meeting place for fans of his music ever since.

Busko in Belon's life

Belon was born on 14 March 1952 in Kwidzyn, his mother's home town, and spent part of his childhood in Skarżysko-Kamienna. In 1965 the family settled in Busko-Zdrój, where Wojciech finished primary school and attended secondary school. In summer 1971, together with a younger schoolmate, Grażyna Kulawik, he sang "Ponidzie" at the 4th Tourist Song Fair in Szklarska Poręba and won one of the main prizes — the start of Wolna Grupa Bukowina. In 1974 the band took first prize at the Student Song Festival in Kraków.

Belon sang about Ponidzie, the Bieszczady and the Low Beskids, and about ordinary people — songs such as "Ballada o Cześku Piekarzu" (Ballad of Czesiek the Baker) and "Majster Bieda" were inspired by real stories. He died in a Kraków hospital on the night of 3–4 May 1985, aged 33, and was buried in Busko-Zdrój on 8 May 1985.

What to see

• The bronze figure of Belon with a guitar, by the Tarnów sculptor Jacek Kucaba.
• The bench shaped like a stylised guitar neck, cast in concrete.
• A memorial plaque in the foyer of the Cultural Centre, which bears the musician's name.

Did you know?

Since the year the bench was unveiled, the Busko Municipal Cultural Centre has organised the Wojtek Belon National Song Festival "Niechaj zabrzmi Bukowina" ("Let Bukowina Sound"), usually in late May. The winner receives the "Eternal Wanderer" statuette, and participants traditionally gather at the bench in the evening. Past festivals have included kayak trips on the Nida river from Wiślica to Nowy Korczyn and hikes around Ponidzie.

Tripto tip

The bench is accessible round the clock and free of charge; 10–15 minutes is enough for a photo and a moment of reflection. The liveliest time is festival weekend, usually at the end of May — check the programme on the cultural centre's website. Combine your visit with a walk around the spa town of Busko-Zdrój, and Belon fans can also visit his grave in town. For a trip through the Ponidzie he sang about, Wiślica and the Nida valley are good choices.