Jindřich Šimon Baar Monument

The Jindřich Šimon Baar Monument stands on the Výhledy hill, about 2 kilometres south of Klenčí pod Čerchovem - the writer's home village, whom it commemorates. The monument combines a granite pedestal with a three-metre bronze figure, reaching 14 metres in total height. It was designed by sculptor Ladislav Šaloun and architect František Kuželka, and from its position at 705 metres above sea level it offers a view across the whole Chodsko region.

Who was Jindřich Šimon Baar?

Jindřich Šimon Baar was born in Klenčí pod Čerchovem and worked as a writer, poet, collector of folk tales, and Catholic priest. It was this combination - a literary figure and clergyman closely tied to the Chodsko region he wrote about - that led local people to raise a monument to him at a spot overlooking the very land he described.

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

The full structure measures 14 metres in height, of which the bronze figure alone is 3 metres tall and weighs 1.7 tonnes. The pedestal is carved from granite, and its front panel bears an inscribed quotation from Baar's poetry expressing devotion to the Czech land. Pairing a plain stone pedestal with a cast bronze figure was a common approach for monuments unveiled in interwar Czechoslovakia.

When was the monument unveiled?

The ceremonial unveiling took place on 5 July 1933. The event was opened by composer Jindřich Jindřich, himself a native of the Chodsko region, and according to chroniclers drew a crowd of around 30,000 people - a scale that reflects how significant Baar's memory was to local residents at the time.

What did the monument survive during the war?

Its history has not been a quiet one. On 22 November 1938, shortly after the Chodsko borderland came under German control following the Munich Agreement, the bronze statue was taken down from its pedestal on the initiative of Alois Procházka, curator of the museum in Domažlice. The figure was moved to the Chodský hrad castle in Domažlice for safekeeping. That decision only partly paid off: in August 1940 the stone pedestal itself, still standing on Výhledy, was destroyed by the Nazis. The bronze figure nonetheless survived the war in Domažlice, and the monument was unveiled for a second time on 5 July 1947. Its rebuilt pedestal incorporated a stone brought from Lidice, the village razed by the Nazis in 1942, as a deliberate reminder of that history.

Is the monument protected today?

Yes. The Jindřich Šimon Baar Monument is listed among the cultural monuments of the Czech Republic and has held protected status since 3 May 1958.

How do you get to Výhledy?

The shortest approach is the Baarova stezka (Baar's Trail) from Klenčí pod Čerchovem, just under 3 kilometres long. From Domažlice, a red-marked trail covers roughly 11 kilometres, while a blue-marked trail offers an alternative approach from Capartice. The spot is a well-known viewpoint in the region, with the monument's hilltop position giving a panorama over the whole of Chodsko.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the monument located? On the Výhledy hill (705 m above sea level), about 2 km south of Klenčí pod Čerchovem.

Who designed the monument? Sculptor Ladislav Šaloun created the bronze figure, and architect František Kuželka designed the granite pedestal.

Did the original statue survive the Second World War? Yes. It was taken down in November 1938 and kept safe at the Chodský hrad castle in Domažlice, so it survived even though the pedestal itself was destroyed in 1940. The monument was rebuilt and unveiled again in 1947.

What does the inscription on the pedestal say? A quotation from Jindřich Šimon Baar's poetry, expressing love for the Czech land.

What's the quickest way to walk to Výhledy? Via the Baarova stezka from Klenčí pod Čerchovem - just under 3 kilometres.