Knopp's Cross

Knopp's Cross is a sandstone wayside cross standing among the fields near Jistebník, in the Nový Jičín district of Czech Silesia-Moravia. Locals also know it as the Clover Cross (Jetelový kříž), a nickname tied to the clover fields that once surrounded the spot. It stands beside a field track linking Jistebník with Fonovice, part of nearby Klimkovice, and can be visited year-round.

Who put up the cross, and when?

The cross was commissioned in 1848 by a local man named Franz Knopp, whose surname it still carries. A mid-19th-century date like this is typical for Moravian roadside crosses of the period: farmers and landowners often funded them out of gratitude for a good harvest, in thanksgiving for surviving illness or accident, or simply as an expression of personal faith.

What does Knopp's Cross look like?

It's a Latin cross bearing a crucifix figure, set on a stone pedestal finished with moulded cornices. The pedestal carries relief carvings of Our Lady of Sorrows, Saint John of Nepomuk, and Saint Francis of Assisi. The decoration is completed by a Eucharistic chalice flanked by two bunches of grapes — an iconographic combination common on votive and memorial crosses across the region, referencing both the Eucharist and the image of the vine.

Has it survived intact?

Not entirely — the cross was damaged by a lightning strike at some point in its history. It underwent restoration in 2020, which brought it back to something close to its original appearance, and it still marks the same spot along the field path today.

How do you get there?

The easiest approach is on foot or by bike, following the field track that runs from Jistebník toward Fonovice. The route crosses open farmland, so it's worth timing a visit for clear weather — the surrounding vegetation can grow dense in summer. There's no tourist infrastructure at the site itself; it's a quiet, unmarked stop mainly of interest to people tracing local history and small sacred monuments.

Why stop here?

Knopp's Cross isn't a headline attraction like a castle or a church, and that's rather the point — it's a modest, still-standing witness to the everyday piety of Jistebník's residents nearly two centuries ago. For anyone exploring the Poodří region, it makes a natural pause between villages, and a good excuse for a short walk through the fields.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly does Knopp's Cross stand? Among fields near Jistebník, on the track leading to Fonovice (part of Klimkovice), in the Nový Jičín district.

Who built it, and when? It was commissioned in 1848 by Franz Knopp, the man whose name it bears.

Does the cross have another name? Yes — locally it's also called the Jetelový kříž, or Clover Cross.

Is the site easy for visitors to reach? Yes, it's accessible year-round via a field path on foot or by bicycle, though there's no marked tourist infrastructure on site.