Husitská žena, bojovnice z Vítkova

Husitská žena, bojovnice z Vítkova ("Hussite Woman, Fighter from Vítkov") is a sandstone sculpture standing in the park by the Hvězda summer palace in Prague's Liboc district. It depicts a Hussite woman warrior and commemorates the part women played in defending Vítkov Hill during the 1420 battle — one of the turning points of the Hussite Wars.

Who does the sculpture depict?

The sculpture shows a female figure recalling the Hussite "sisters" — women who, during the Hussite Wars, did not merely watch from the sidelines but worked alongside men to raise hasty defensive earthworks. The best-known episode of this kind is the defense of Vítkov Hill in 1420, where small, quickly built fortifications proved decisive in repelling the crusading army of Sigismund of Luxembourg. The sculpture was created by Czech sculptor Jan Jiříkovský, who carved it from sandstone around 1960. The work is registered by the Prague City Gallery (Galerie hlavního města Prahy) as part of its public sculpture collection, under inventory number VP-146.

Where does the sculpture stand?

The statue stands in the park surrounding the Hvězda summer palace (Letohrádek Hvězda) — a Renaissance six-pointed star-shaped pavilion located within the Hvězda game reserve in Liboc, on the western edge of Prague 6. The site's coordinates are 50.083604, 14.326696. Set outdoors amid the greenery of the former hunting park, the sculpture makes a natural stop on a walk combining a visit to the summer palace with a stroll through its wooded surroundings.

How to get there?

The Hvězda game reserve and its summer palace lie in Liboc, a western Prague district well connected to the city center by public transport. The park is freely open to the public and easy to explore on foot, with the sculpture standing within its grounds not far from the pavilion itself. The area combines historical interest — the summer palace itself and the nearby site of the 1620 Battle of White Mountain — with the chance for a quiet walk among mature trees.

Why is it worth seeking out?

The sculpture is a small but telling piece of Liboc's cultural landscape, linking a historical theme — the role women played in the Hussite Wars — with the tradition of mid-20th-century Czech outdoor sculpture. For visitors to Hvězda park, it's a worthwhile detour to look for alongside the main attraction, the summer palace itself.

Frequently asked questions

Who is depicted in the Liboc sculpture? The sculpture depicts a Hussite woman warrior, referencing the role women played in defending Vítkov Hill during the 1420 battle.

Who created the sculpture? It was created by Czech sculptor Jan Jiříkovský, who carved the work in sandstone around 1960.

Where exactly does the sculpture stand? In the park by the Hvězda summer palace, within the Hvězda game reserve in Prague's Liboc district (coordinates 50.083604, 14.326696).

Is the sculpture part of an official public art collection? Yes, it is registered by the Prague City Gallery as a piece of public sculpture, under inventory number VP-146.

What else is worth seeing nearby? The Hvězda summer palace itself — a Renaissance star-shaped pavilion — along with the grounds of the former hunting park where the sculpture stands.