Bedřich Smetana

The Bedřich Smetana bust stands on Smetanovo náměstí (Smetana Square) in Pardubice, right next to the Východočeské divadlo (East Bohemian Theatre) building. It is a modest but distinctive monument: a bronze bust of the composer set on a faceted granite pedestal, backed by a wall of layered glass blocks. It was unveiled on 15 September 1979 as part of the exhibition "Pardubice – a city of culture and sport." The sculpture was created by Štěpán Kotrba (1932–1999), working alongside architect František Příborský and metalworker Josef Bursík.

Where exactly does the monument stand?

The bust sits on Smetanovo náměstí, right in the city centre, next to the theatre building. It's a spot with a clearly cultural character — the square itself carries the composer's name, and together with the theatre it forms a small, coherent cluster of art-related landmarks. For anyone exploring central Pardubice, it's an easy stop to combine with a walk through the old town and a visit to the theatre.

Who designed the bust, and when was it built?

The bronze bust itself is the work of sculptor Štěpán Kotrba, while the overall composition — including the faceted granite pedestal and the glass-block wall behind it — was designed by architect František Příborský. The metalwork was carried out by Josef Bursík. The monument was officially unveiled on 15 September 1979, during a municipal exhibition dedicated to culture and sport. In 2004 the bust underwent a complete restoration, which is why it remains in good condition today.

Why did Pardubice choose to honour Smetana specifically?

Bedřich Smetana is regarded in his homeland as the father of Czech national music. Internationally, he is best known for the 1866 opera "The Bartered Bride" and for the symphonic cycle "Má vlast," which includes the famous tone poem "Vltava" (also known by its German name, "Die Moldau"). His work has long been treated in Czechia as a pillar of national cultural identity, which is why towns and cities across the country — Pardubice among them — have marked his memory with busts and memorial plaques as a symbol of Czech musical culture.

Was this the first attempt to commemorate Smetana in Pardubice?

No. The idea of erecting a monument to the composer in Pardubice first surfaced as early as the end of the 19th century and kept resurfacing over the following decades. A local Society for the Erection of a Monument to Bedřich Smetana had planned to build one according to designs by architect Karel Řepa and sculptor Ladislav Beneš, with work due to start in 1940 — but the outbreak of the Second World War put a definitive end to that plan. It wasn't until nearly four decades later, in 1979, that the city finally realised a monument, in the entirely different post-war form seen today.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is this landmark? A bronze bust of Bedřich Smetana mounted on a faceted granite pedestal, set against a wall of layered glass blocks, located on Smetanovo náměstí in Pardubice.

When was the monument built? It was unveiled on 15 September 1979 and underwent a full restoration in 2004.

Who created it? The bust was sculpted by Štěpán Kotrba, the pedestal and setting were designed by architect František Příborský, and the metalwork was done by Josef Bursík.

Did Smetana have a personal connection to Pardubice? Available sources don't point to a specific biographical link between the composer and the city — the monument was raised as a tribute to a figure regarded across Czechia as the founder of its national music, much like the numerous other Smetana busts and plaques found in other Czech towns.

Was this the only monument to Smetana ever planned in Pardubice? No — an earlier project, drawn up before the Second World War by architect Karel Řepa and sculptor Ladislav Beneš, was never realised because of the war.