The year 2017 is a year of many anniversaries. We celebrate the 800th anniversary of the city of Opole, the 160th anniversary of the cement industry in Poland and Opole, and the 200th anniversary of the invention of Portland cement. It is a unique opportunity to remind the residents of Opole about the fascinating history of the cement industry in Opole and the white Opole gold - cement, Juno from the Nadodrze Park, but also - as the President of the Board of the Odra Cement Plant said at the unveiling ceremony of the monument - to show how friendly a material, serving not only for construction purposes, is cement. The sculpture was made by students of the Institute of Art of the University of Opole as part of their diploma work, commissioned by the ODRA S.A. Cement Plant, which is the founder and initiator of the bust's restoration.

It is worth reminding that the history of Opole's Juno dates back to 1867, when the World Exhibition of All Nations took place in Paris, where Opole decided to show what it has most precious – cement. The first Opole cement plant - Grundman's cement plant presented its product in the form of a sculpture, specifically a bust of Juno, which was a faithful copy of the marble bust of the goddess Juno from the Roman palace Villa Ludovisi. After returning to Opole, Juno was first placed in the Castle Park and later in the Nadodrze Park, where it awaited the war and the arrival of the Red Army. From that moment on, its trace is lost.

We encourage you to view the photo gallery, showing the process of Juno's creation and its ceremonial unveiling in the Nadodrze Park.