Socha sv. Jana Nepomuckého v Miroslavských Knínicích

The Statue of St. John of Nepomuk in Miroslavské Knínice is a 19th-century sandstone monument standing at the heart of a small Moravian village, right beside the bridge over the Našiměřický stream. It isn't a landmark worth a dedicated trip on its own, but the story carved into its pedestal reveals a personal history behind an otherwise ordinary piece of village stonework.

Where does the statue stand?

The statue rises in the center of Miroslavské Knínice, on the south side of the bridge crossing the Našiměřický stream (roughly 48.977°N, 16.321°E). Carved from sandstone and set on a stone pedestal, it depicts St. John of Nepomuk in his canon's vestments, crowned with the halo of five stars that traditionally marks his images across Bohemia and Moravia — a symbol tied to his role as the saint who kept the seal of confession.

Who paid for it, and why?

The front of the pedestal carries an inscription in archaic Czech spelling: "Wystaweni s nakladem Eleonory Curdowe ke cti a chwale Boží a spaseni dusší gegí 1838" — "Erected at the expense of Eleonora Čurdová, to the honor and glory of God and the salvation of her soul, 1838." Eleonora Čurdová (c. 1771–1842) was a local resident. According to accounts tied to the monument, she had the statue built against the backdrop of a difficult personal history: as a young woman she married a much older widower without a dowry, and by the time he died she was considered too old for a further marriage that might have brought her children. Funding a religious monument was a common way, at the time, of expressing gratitude, penance, or a plea for grace.

Who carved the statue?

The work is attributed to stonemason Jakub Majer from nearby Nová Ves. He was no stranger to the village — back in 1820, nearly two decades earlier, he had already carved a wayside cross for the same community, making the 1838 statue his second known commission here.

Is there more to the inscription?

Beyond the main dedication on the front, the side of the pedestal bears a prayer inscription addressed to the saint, asking for his intercession. Pairing a donor's dedication with a devotional prayer was typical of roadside shrines and statues across Czech and Moravian villages, meant to serve both as a personal memorial and as a place of prayer for residents and passing travelers.

Is the monument protected?

Yes. The statue is listed in the Czech Republic's Central List of Cultural Monuments under registration number 29203/7-6575. It underwent restoration in 2009, carried out by conservator Alexander Kozlov, which kept its inscriptions and sculptural details legible today.

Why stop here?

The statue of St. John of Nepomuk in Miroslavské Knínice is a fitting example of the small-scale sacred heritage found throughout rural Moravia — a nearly two-century-old record of craftsmanship, faith, and one woman's personal story, still standing where it was placed. For travelers passing through the region, it's a small but genuine window into traditional village devotion in the Czech countryside.

Frequently asked questions

When was the statue in Miroslavské Knínice made? In 1838, according to the date inscribed on its pedestal.

Who commissioned the statue? Eleonora Čurdová, a local resident who had it erected for the glory of God and the salvation of her own soul.

Who carved the statue? Stonemason Jakub Majer from Nová Ves, who had also carved a wayside cross for the village in 1820.

Is the statue a protected monument? Yes — it is listed in the Czech Republic's Central List of Cultural Monuments and was restored in 2009.

Where exactly does it stand? In the center of Miroslavské Knínice, on the south side of the bridge over the Našiměřický stream.