Equestrian Statue of Jan Žižka in Přibyslav

The equestrian statue of Jan Žižka of Trocnov stands in Přibyslav, a small town in the Vysočina Region, south of the local chateau, in a park rising above the Sázava River. It is one of the few monuments dedicated to this Hussite military leader outside Prague, and its location here is no coincidence — Žižka died near Přibyslav in 1424, during a siege he was leading against the town.

Who created the monument and when?

The sculpture is the work of Czech sculptor Bohumil Kafka, the same artist behind the monumental Žižka statue crowning Vítkov Hill in Prague — one of the largest equestrian statues in the world. Kafka received the commission for the smaller Přibyslav version in 1931, and the monument itself was completed in 1935. The Přibyslav statue is considered one of the smaller models Kafka produced while working on the figure of Žižka.

What does the monument look like, and how large is it?

The sculpture depicts Žižka mounted on his horse, dressed in the full gear of a Hussite warrior. The monument measures 290 cm in height and 300 cm in length — by comparison, the Prague statue on Vítkov Hill stands 9 meters tall and 9.6 meters long, showing just how modest in scale the Přibyslav version is. Despite its smaller size, Kafka paid the same careful attention to detail: during the work he consulted experts on the horse's breed, period clothing and weaponry, and the appearance of the horse's harness, producing several smaller preparatory models along the way.

What is Žižka's connection to Přibyslav?

Jan Žižka, one of the most successful military commanders of his era, renowned for his leadership during the Hussite Wars (1419–c. 1434), died in the vicinity of Přibyslav. This event made the town a natural place to commemorate him — unlike Prague, where the Vítkov monument is tied primarily to the Hussite battle fought on that hill in 1420, the Přibyslav statue refers directly to the site of the commander's death.

Has the monument undergone restoration?

Yes. The statue has been conserved over the years — in 2022 it was taken down from its pedestal and handed over to restorers for renewal, after decades of standing exposed to the elements.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly does the monument stand? In a park south of the chateau in Přibyslav, near the Sázava River.

Who designed the sculpture? Bohumil Kafka, who also created the Žižka monument on Vítkov Hill in Prague.

How big is the monument? 290 cm high and 300 cm long — considerably smaller than its Prague counterpart.

Why is the monument located in Přibyslav specifically? Because Jan Žižka died near the town in 1424 while leading a siege there.

Is it worth combining a visit with other sights in town? Yes, the monument sits next to the chateau park, making for a pleasant walk through the historic part of Přibyslav.