The Looming Head of Jānis Zvīdra in Rēzekne, Latvia

If you are driving through the town of Rēzekne in Latvia's Latgale region, keep your eyes peeled near the train station junction. Right there on a grassy corner, you’ll encounter an incredibly stoic, oversized stone head staring intensely into the distance. This is the monument to Jānis Zvīdra, and it is a textbook example of how the Soviet Union loved to turn local teenagers into monumental legends. Zvīdra was a local boy who became a passionate communist activist during the chaotic aftermath of World War I. He was caught and killed by Latvian security forces in 1920 at the tender age of 25.

This story was reported by Atlas Obscura - Latest Articles and Places. EUROPES curates Europe's most relevant coverage — read the full report at the original source.