Josef Dobrovský Monument

Josef Dobrovský Monument stands on Kampa Island in Prague's Malá Strana district, right on the bank of the Vltava, in a spot that has long drawn people looking for a quiet corner in the middle of the city. It's a modest but meaningful memorial to one of the key scholars of the Czech National Revival.

Who was Josef Dobrovský?

Josef Dobrovský (1753–1829) was a Czech linguist, historian, and clergyman, regarded as the founder of modern Slavic studies and the father of modern Czech philology. He studied philosophy and theology at Charles University in Prague, and after the temporary dissolution of the Jesuit order in 1773 devoted himself fully to scholarship. He researched old Slavic manuscripts and traveled as far as Russia and Sweden in search of works removed during the Thirty Years' War. His 1809 grammar of Czech brought order to the literary language, and his 1815 grammar of Old Church Slavonic laid the groundwork for comparative Slavic linguistics. Dobrovský also kept contact with European intellectuals of his time, including Goethe.

What does the monument look like?

The monument consists of a large base and a bust of the scholar. It was designed in 1890 by Tomáš Seidan, though some sources note that the final execution in Carrara marble was carried out in 1902 by sculptor Václav Žďárský, working from Seidan's design. It was first unveiled in Vrchlického sady, a park near Prague's main railway station — a completely different part of the city from where it stands today.

Why is it on Kampa now?

After World War II, the monument was moved to Kampa and placed next to the building known today as Werichova vila, where Dobrovský spent his retirement years. That historical link to the site is what determined the new location, placing the monument right beside a building tied to the scholar's own biography rather than at some arbitrary spot in the city.

How do you get there?

Kampa sits right in the center of Prague, on the left bank of the Vltava, separated from the rest of Malá Strana by the narrow Čertovka channel. The easiest way in is on foot from Charles Bridge — just take the stairs down to the island on its western side. The area is fully walkable, and the nearest tram stops are at Malostranské náměstí, a few minutes' walk from the park.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Kampa's park is one of the most visited green spaces in central Prague, valued for its views of Charles Bridge and the riverbank, and for its calm compared to the crowds on the nearby streets. Close by stands the Kampa Museum, housed in a former mill and dedicated to 20th-century Central European art, along with David Černý's "Crawling Babies" sculptures. The Čertovka channel itself, artificially dug in the Middle Ages for mills once belonging to the Knights Hospitaller, adds to the picturesque character of the place.

When should you visit?

Kampa is open year-round and free to enter. It's most pleasant to walk here in spring and summer, when the park's greenery is in full bloom and it's easy to sit on the grass by the Vltava. Autumn and winter tend to be quieter, which suits travelers who prefer to avoid crowds.

Frequently asked questions

Who does the monument on Kampa commemorate? Josef Dobrovský (1753–1829), a Czech linguist and historian regarded as the founder of modern Slavic studies.

Who designed the monument? The 1890 design is by Tomáš Seidan; some sources credit the final execution in marble to sculptor Václav Žďárský in 1902.

Where did the monument originally stand? In Vrchlického sady, a park near Prague's main railway station, before it was moved to Kampa after World War II.

Why was it moved specifically to Kampa? Because it stands next to the building known today as Werichova vila, where Dobrovský spent his retirement years.

How do you get to Kampa? The easiest route is on foot from Charles Bridge, down the stairs to the island on its western side; entry is free year-round.