About this place
The Freedom Monument (Pomník svobody) stands on a small square in the Dolejší Předměstí district of Domažlice, right below the former Lower Gate, one of the historic entrances to the old town. It is a sculptural tribute to residents of Domažlice and the surrounding Chodsko region who died in World War I, and it also commemorates the 1918 Rumburk mutiny.
Who is the monument dedicated to?
The monument was created to honor local victims of the Great War — townspeople and residents of the Chodsko region who never returned from the front. At the same time, it commemorates the participants of the so-called Rumburk uprising, a mutiny by Czech soldiers stationed in Rumburk in May 1918 that was brutally suppressed by the Austro-Hungarian army. The leaders of that uprising had ties to Domažlice and the Chodsko region, which is why the monument combines two themes at once: mourning for the fallen and tribute to those who rebelled in the name of independence.
Who designed the monument?
The sculpture was created by Czech sculptor Otakar Švec (1892–1955). It was carved from light-colored Hořice sandstone, a material widely favored at the time for monumental sculpture in Czech lands thanks to its pale tone and workability.
What does the monument look like?
The composition consists of a group of figures facing four different directions: three standing male figures and a kneeling mother with a child. The most recognizable side is the eastern one, which features a nude young man holding the flag of freedom — an allegory of national liberation and a symbol of the nation's future. Because the figures are arranged around a central form, the monument reads differently depending on which side it is viewed from, effectively telling its story from four separate angles.
What is the monument's history?
The monument was unveiled on 17 August 1924, a few years after the war ended and independent Czechoslovakia was established. It was later restored and unveiled again in May 1946, in the postwar era. It still stands in its original location today — on the small square below the Lower Gate — as one of the more significant markers of historical memory in Domažlice.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Freedom Monument located? On a square in the Dolejší Předměstí district of Domažlice, directly below the former Lower Gate of the town's defensive walls.
When was the monument unveiled? It was first unveiled on 17 August 1924. After restoration, it was unveiled again in May 1946.
Who created the sculpture? Czech sculptor Otakar Švec (1892–1955).
What does the monument depict? A group of four figures — three standing men and a kneeling mother with a child — facing different directions. The central motif is a nude young man holding the flag of freedom on the eastern side, symbolizing national liberation.
Who is it dedicated to? Fallen residents of Domažlice and the Chodsko region from World War I, as well as participants of the 1918 Rumburk uprising, whose leaders came from this region.
Is it worth seeing while walking around Domažlice? Yes — the monument sits right along the route leading from the historic town center toward the Lower Gate, making it a natural stop on a walk through the old part of Domažlice.
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