Nesmrtelným

Nesmrtelným ("To the Immortals") is a monument to the victims of both World Wars standing in the center of Kralupy nad Vltavou, a small town in the Central Bohemian Region, in the Mělník district. It stands right next to the west side of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and St. Wenceslas, facing the main street and the Zákolanský stream.

How to get there?

Kralupy nad Vltavou lies a short distance northwest of Prague, along the railway line and road toward Mělník and Slaný. The town has its own train station, and the center, where the monument stands, is only a few minutes' walk away. The monument occupies a prominent spot next to the parish church, so it's hard to miss while strolling through the old town.

What does the monument show?

On a pedestal of white travertine stands a bronze sculpture of a wounded soldier collapsing to the ground — the work of sculptor Jan Straka, known under the title "Zraněný" ("The Wounded"). The front of the pedestal bears the inscription "NESMRTELNÝM 1914-1918 1939-1945," and below it sits a small container holding soil brought from the battlefields where Czechoslovak legionnaires fought — Zborov, Terron, and Doss Alto. Zborov lies in what is now western Ukraine, where the Czechoslovak legions fought one of their first independent battles in 1917; Terron was a battle site in France in 1918; and Doss Alto is a hill in northern Italy where legionnaires fought that same year.

What is the history behind it?

The monument was ceremonially unveiled in 1930 as a tribute to residents of Kralupy who died in the First World War. After the end of the Second World War, the pedestal was updated with the additional dates 1939-1945, extending the memorial to honor the victims of that conflict as well. This turned the monument into a shared site of remembrance for both wars rather than just one.

When are commemorative ceremonies held?

Two official ceremonies take place at the monument each year, attended by city representatives: one in May, marking the anniversary of the end of the Second World War, and another in October, tied to celebrations of the founding of Czechoslovakia. Visiting around these dates is a good way to see the site not just as a historic landmark, but as a living part of local memory.

Frequently asked questions

What does "Nesmrtelným" mean? It's Czech for "To the Immortals" — the monument was dedicated to the fallen, whose sacrifice was meant to live on as immortal.

Who created the sculpture? The wounded-soldier sculpture was made by Czech sculptor Jan Straka.

Where does the soil in the pedestal come from? From the battlefields of Zborov, Terron, and Doss Alto, where Czechoslovak legionnaires fought during the First World War.

When do ceremonies take place at the monument? Every year in May (anniversary of the end of World War II) and in October (anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia).