Benedikt Roezl memorial

The Benedikt Roezl Memorial stands on Karlovo náměstí (Charles Square) in Prague, one of the largest city squares in Europe, honoring a Czech botanist and traveler who became one of the 19th century's most celebrated plant hunters. This modest-looking piece of public art hides a story of an extraordinarily adventurous life spent in the tropical forests of the Americas.

Where exactly does the memorial stand?

The statue is located in the southern part of Karlovo náměstí, facing the so-called Faust House, one of New Town Prague's most legend-shrouded buildings. The square, lined with greenery and walking paths, has long functioned as a city park, and the Roezl memorial is one of several monuments found within it. The site is within easy walking distance of the Karlovo náměstí metro station, making it a simple stop while exploring Prague's New Town.

What does the memorial look like?

The sculptural group shows a standing man in a hat and an open traveling coat, holding a book in his right hand and a bronze flower in his left. At his feet, resting against his bent knee, sits a boy with the features of an indigenous American, gripping a machete. The composition is meant to evoke the adventurous, exotic nature of Roezl's expeditions and the distant lands where he gathered his botanical treasures. The pedestal was designed by architect Eduard Sochor, and the entire sculpture is cast in bronze.

Who created the memorial and when was it built?

The sculpture was created by Augustin Zoula, a young Prague sculptor who lived from 1871 to 1915, working in cooperation with the more experienced Čeněk Vosmík (1860–1944). The memorial was unveiled in 1898, less than fifteen years after Roezl's death — a sign of how quickly his achievements earned recognition in his home city. Today the monument is listed as a protected cultural heritage site of the Czech Republic.

Who was Benedikt Roezl?

Benedikt Roezl was born on September 13, 1824, in Horoměřice near Prague, and died on October 14, 1885, in Prague itself. He devoted his entire adult life to traveling in search of plants, crossing vast stretches of the Americas on horseback and on foot, reaching places few Europeans of his time ever visited. He is regarded as one of the most celebrated plant collectors of his era, credited with personally discovering more than 800 species of flowering plants and trees. Orchids became his particular passion — he gathered thousands of them in the rainforests of Central and South America, supplying exotic specimens to greenhouses and botanical gardens across Europe. His life as a traveler was far from easy: Roezl survived a shipwreck and a volcanic eruption, and lost a hand in an accident, none of which stopped him from continuing his expeditions.

Why is this site worth a visit?

The Benedikt Roezl memorial is a rare example of a botanist honored with a monumental urban sculpture — such tributes are usually reserved for rulers, military figures, or artists rather than scientists devoted to plants. While visiting Karlovo náměstí, it's worth pausing at this statue to recall a lesser-known but fascinating chapter of Czech scientific and travel history, while also admiring the sculptural composition itself, which blends portrait-like realism with an exotic backdrop.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the Benedikt Roezl memorial stand? On Karlovo náměstí in Prague, facing the Faust House, within easy walking distance of the metro station of the same name.

Who was Benedikt Roezl? A Czech botanist and traveler who lived from 1824 to 1885, known as one of the 19th century's most famous plant and orchid hunters.

Who designed the memorial? The sculpture was created by Augustin Zoula in cooperation with Čeněk Vosmík, with the pedestal designed by architect Eduard Sochor.

When was the memorial unveiled? It was unveiled in 1898, less than fifteen years after Roezl's death.

What does the sculpture depict? A standing traveler holding a book and a flower, with a boy holding a machete seated at his feet, referencing Roezl's expeditions across the Americas.