Bust of Karel Havlíček Borovský

The Bust of Karel Havlíček Borovský stands in Přibyslav, in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, along the road leading from the railway station toward the town center, directly opposite the statue of Jan Žižka of Trocnov. This pairing of monuments — a 15th-century Hussite military commander and a 19th-century journalist — turns this stretch of the town into a small corridor of national memory that almost every visitor arriving by train walks through on the way to the square.

Who was Karel Havlíček Borovský?

Karel Havlíček Borovský (1821–1856) ranks among the most significant figures of the Czech National Revival in the 19th century. He worked as a journalist, poet, publicist, translator and politician, best remembered for his sharp, satirical criticism of both the Austrian administration and the conservative clergy of his time. The second part of his name, "Borovský," comes from the village of Borová (today Havlíčkova Borová), located a few kilometers from Přibyslav, where he was born. This geographic closeness — his native village lying just outside the town — explains why Přibyslav specifically chose to honor him with a bust, rather than any other town in the region.

Havlíček made his name as editor of publications such as "Národní noviny" and "Slovan," where his outspoken political commentary eventually led the Austrian authorities to exile him to Brixen in Tyrol. He died shortly after returning from exile, at just 35 years old, leaving behind a body of work — including satirical poems written during his banishment — that remains part of the core canon of Czech literature and journalism to this day.

Location and surroundings

The bust stands along the main pedestrian route connecting Přibyslav's railway station with the town's historic center. This practical placement means that almost every visitor arriving by rail passes it without any detour. Facing the bust is a statue of Jan Žižka of Trocnov, one of the most famous commanders of the Hussite Wars, making this spot a kind of historical waypoint linking two very different eras of Czech history — the medieval religious wars and the 19th-century national awakening.

Přibyslav itself is a small town on the border between Bohemia and Moravia, also known for its Fire Brigade Museum and its proximity to a regional trail tracing Havlíček's life across the Vysočina region.

Why stop at this bust?

For anyone interested in the history of the Czech National Revival, the bust in Přibyslav is a natural stop on a route that often also includes Havlíček's family home in nearby Havlíčkova Borová, today preserved as a site of national memory. Despite its modest size, Přibyslav offers travelers a compact history lesson — from a Hussite war leader to a 19th-century champion of free speech — all within a few minutes' walk of the train station.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly does the bust of Karel Havlíček Borovský stand? Along the road leading from the railway station in Přibyslav to the town center, opposite the statue of Jan Žižka of Trocnov.

Why is Havlíček commemorated in Přibyslav specifically? Because he was born in the nearby village of Borová (now Havlíčkova Borová), the source of his "Borovský" surname.

Who was Karel Havlíček Borovský? A Czech journalist, poet and politician of the National Revival era, known for his criticism of the Austrian authorities, which led to his exile in Brixen.

What else is worth seeing nearby? The statue of Jan Žižka of Trocnov standing opposite the bust, and Havlíček's family home in nearby Havlíčkova Borová.