Pomník obětem první a druhé světové války Pěsti a květy v Pardubicích

The Memorial to the Victims of the First and Second World Wars "Fists and Flowers" stands on the eastern edge of Pardubice, right behind the Wonka Bridge, at the point where the road from the bridge meets the Polabiny II district. This modest but visually striking sandstone sculpture group has marked the memory of both world wars' victims for several decades.

Where exactly is the memorial located?

The memorial sits in an open public space on the eastern side of Pardubice, next to the Wonka Bridge and close to the edge of the Polabiny II district. The same riverside area also hosts a summer open-air cinema and a playground, so many visitors pass the memorial while walking along the Elbe river or heading toward the housing estate. Its approximate coordinates are 50.0439N, 15.7654E, making it easy to find on a map and reach on foot or by bike.

Who designed the memorial and when was it built?

The sculptural work was created by Dobromil Zahradník (1925–1991) and František Pleskot, while the architectural design is credited to Květoslav Vaněk, born in 1924. The memorial dates to the 1970s, with one catalogue source pointing specifically to 1979 as the year it was unveiled. The team chose sandstone as the material — durable, yet workable enough to allow for expressive, sculptural shaping of the two blocks.

What does the memorial commemorate, and where does its name come from?

The memorial's official, catalogued purpose is to honor the victims of the First and Second World Wars. Its popular name, "Fists and Flowers," refers to the form of the work itself: two contrasting stone blocks placed side by side, a pairing that — in line with typical postwar commemorative sculpture — reads as a combination of strength and resistance (the fist) with mourning and remembrance (the flower). Available sources do not include a word-for-word artist's statement explaining the symbolism, so this reading should be taken as an interpretation of the form rather than a quoted inscription.

What does the memorial look like?

The composition consists of two separate stone blocks. The larger one measures roughly 235 cm in height, 105 cm in width, and 100 cm in depth. The second, somewhat lower and slimmer block measures about 170 cm in height, 95 cm in width, and 100 cm in depth. Both blocks are carved from sandstone and stand close enough together to form a single visual group when approached from the road leading from the bridge. According to heritage-record documentation from 2016, the memorial was in good condition at the time, and it remains standing in its original public location — it has not been relocated or removed.

Is the memorial worth a visit while touring Pardubice?

For visitors focused on Pardubice's headline sights — the castle, the Green Gate, or the main square — "Fists and Flowers" is not a top-priority stop, but it makes an interesting detour for anyone walking along the Elbe toward Polabiny. It's also a good example of postwar commemorative sculpture in the public space of a Czech town, worth a few minutes of attention on a longer walk.

Frequently asked questions

When was the "Fists and Flowers" memorial in Pardubice built? In the 1970s; one source specifically cites 1979.

Who created the memorial? Sculptors Dobromil Zahradník and František Pleskot, with architectural design by Květoslav Vaněk.

What material is the memorial made of? Sandstone.

Where exactly does it stand? Behind the Wonka Bridge in Pardubice, on the road connecting the bridge to the Polabiny II district.

What does the memorial commemorate? The victims of the First and Second World Wars.

Is the memorial easy for tourists to reach? Yes, it stands in an open public space near a summer cinema and a playground, reachable on foot or by bike.