Monument to the Victims of World War I in Vysoká nad Labem

The Monument to the Victims of World War I stands on the western side of the local school in Vysoká nad Labem, on land once occupied by a summer gymnasium. It is a modest yet powerful reminder of the villagers who never returned from the front between 1914 and 1918.

Who built the monument, and when?

The initiative to honor the fallen came from the local Republican youth movement, founded in 1919 shortly after the establishment of Czechoslovakia. Villagers raised 12,000 crowns for the project — a substantial sum at the time, showing how important it was for the community to remember the sons, husbands, and neighbors who never came home. The monument was ceremonially unveiled on June 26, 1921. During the dedication, soil brought from French battlefields and a commemorative document were placed inside the monument.

What is it made of, and who designed it?

The monument was carved from light-colored Hořice sandstone, quarried on the Vysoký Chvojnec estate. Its sculptural design was created by Prague sculptor Josef Doležal. The composition follows a style typical of post-war memorials across Czechoslovakia, combining a simple monumental form with symbolic elements evoking mourning and sacrifice.

What does the inscription say?

The monument bears the inscription: "Činy vaše nechť nedají zapomenout minulosti, vždy připomenou národu povinnost k budoucnosti" — roughly, "May your deeds never let the past be forgotten; may they always remind the nation of its duty to the future." Below the inscription is a panel listing the names of 32 fallen villagers along with their ages, giving the monument a deeply personal character typical of local war memorials built throughout Czechoslovakia after 1918.

What happened to the site after the unveiling?

For decades the monument has served as the focal point of local commemorative ceremonies tied to the memory of World War I. It underwent restoration in 2008, which preserved the legibility of its inscriptions and restored its sculptural form close to the original. Today it continues to serve as a place of remembrance where anniversary ceremonies are still held.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly does the monument stand? On the western side of the local school building in Vysoká nad Labem, on the site of a former summer gymnasium.

How many people does the monument commemorate? The plaque lists 32 names of villagers who died in World War I, along with their ages.

What material was used to build it? Light-colored Hořice sandstone, quarried on the nearby Vysoký Chvojnec estate.

Who designed the monument? Prague sculptor Josef Doležal.

When was it unveiled? On June 26, 1921, during a ceremony in which soil from French battlefields and a commemorative document were placed inside the monument.

Has the monument been restored? Yes, it underwent restoration work in 2008 that returned it close to its original appearance.