About this place
The Monument to Jakub Jan Ryba stands in a small park in Přeštice, in the Plzeň-South district of the Czech Republic, right below the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The spot is not random: an old schoolhouse once stood here, and it was in this building that the teacher's son Jakub Jan Ryba spent the first five years of his life. The monument itself is modest in size, but it carries a well-documented history, which makes it a worthwhile stop for anyone tracing the roots of Czech music and rural education.
Who was Jakub Jan Ryba?
Jakub Jan Ryba was born in Přeštice on 26 October 1765. He worked as a schoolteacher and, alongside that, as a composer and writer. Today he is best remembered for the Czech Christmas Mass, popularly known as "Hej, mistře!" after its opening words. He died on 8 April 1815 in Rožmitál pod Třemšínem. Přeštice was his birthplace and the setting of his early childhood, not the town where he later worked as a teacher and composer — so the monument here has a biographical, family-origin character rather than marking a site of his professional achievement.
What does the monument actually look like?
The centerpiece is a natural stone boulder fitted with a copper plate. The left half of the plate carries a relief portrait of Ryba, shown with a full beard and turned to the right. The right half holds an inscription identifying him, and beneath it runs a short excerpt of musical notation taken from his best-known composition. The relief was created by the Prague-based sculptor Štěpán Kořán.
What does the inscription say?
The plate reads: "Jakub Jan Ryba, učitel, hudební skladatel a spisovatel. * 26. října 1765 v Přešticích. + 8. dubna 1815 v Rožmitále. Zpěvácký spolek "Skála" a občanstvo města Přeštic. 1935." In translation: teacher, music composer and writer, born 26 October 1765 in Přeštice, died 8 April 1815 in Rožmitál — erected by the "Skála" singing society and the citizens of the town of Přeštice in 1935.
Who funded the monument, and when was it built?
The monument was unveiled in 1935, at the initiative of the writer Rudolf Richard Hofmeister from Rožmitál. The funding and organization were handled by the local "Skála" singing society together with the townspeople of Přeštice, both of whom are named as founders on the plate itself. This origin story shows the monument was a community-driven, local initiative rather than a state commission.
Is the monument a protected heritage site?
Yes. It is listed in the Central Register of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic under reference number 14671/4-424, meaning its form and location are legally protected as part of the country's cultural heritage.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly does the monument stand? In a small park in Přeštice, below the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, on the site of the town's former schoolhouse near today's Třebízského street.
Why is the monument in Přeštice if Ryba is more associated with Rožmitál? Because Přeštice is his birthplace — he was born and lived there until the age of five, before his family moved on.
What material is the monument made of? A natural stone boulder holding a copper plate with the relief portrait and inscription.
Who created the relief portrait? The Prague sculptor Štěpán Kořán.
Can visitors see the monument without booking anything in advance? Yes, it stands in a public town park that is freely accessible at any time.
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