“Lāčauša cīņa ar pūķi” (The Bear Cub’s Fight with the Dragon)

The sculpture “Lāčauša cīņa ar pūķi” (The Bear Cub’s Fight with the Dragon) (1956) is one of the most recognisable environmental landmarks in Majori Square in Jūrmala, created by sculptors Leonīds Kristovskis and Vladimirs Rapiķis. The figurative composition is cast in concrete with added stone dust, giving it the appearance of a natural material. The copper sword and shield were crafted by the renowned basketball player Jānis Krūmiņš, who took up metalworking in the workshop of sculptors Inese Krūmiņa and Vladimirs Rapiķis. Interestingly, the sculptors had originally planned to depict Saint George. Still, after the commission was cancelled, the figure was transformed into Lāčplēsis (The Bear Slayer), with the spear replaced by a sword. The sculpture also once functioned as a fountain, complemented by four decorative frogs and a water jet flowing from the dragon’s mouth.