Sochy sv. Floriána a sv. Vendelína na mostě

The statues of St. Florian and St. Wendelin on the bridge form a pair of Baroque sculptures decorating a small stone bridge over the Račický stream in Račice, a village in South Moravia, Czech Republic. Locally known as "U svatých" bridge ("at the saints"), it dates from 1744, while the figures themselves are attributed to the first half of the 18th century — a classic pairing of rural patron saints that still marks one of the village's most distinctive spots.

Where exactly are the statues located?

The sculptures stand directly on the bridge crossing the Račický stream, right in the centre of Račice, part of the Račice-Pístovice municipality in the Vyškov District, South Moravian Region. The village lies east of Brno, and the bridge with its statues is one of the few surviving Baroque details in its public space.

When was the bridge built, and who is depicted?

The "U svatých" bridge was built in 1744. It was decorated at the time with two stone figures — St. Florian and St. Wendelin — saints who have long been regarded as typical guardians of rural communities in this part of Europe. No specific sculptor is confirmed in available sources, though the style and dating point to a Baroque workshop active in Moravia during the first half of the 18th century.

Who are St. Florian and St. Wendelin?

St. Florian is widely venerated as the patron saint of firefighters and protector against fire and flooding — in iconography he is usually shown as a Roman soldier pouring water from a vessel onto a burning building. St. Wendelin, on the other hand, is regarded as the patron of shepherds, farmers and cattle herders — in Central European rural tradition his image was believed to protect livestock and crops from misfortune. Pairing the two saints on a single bridge was no coincidence: together they cover the two greatest fears of a farming community — fire and the loss of livestock or harvest.

What other details decorate the bridge?

Besides the two saints' statues, the bridge features four stone pinecone ornaments. Two of them date from the original 18th-century construction, while the other two were added much later, in 1999, as part of restoration work that returned the bridge to its full, symmetrical appearance.

What should visitors know before going?

Račice is a quiet Moravian village, and the bridge with its statues sits in the centre, easily reached on foot. It appeals more to visitors interested in local history and Baroque religious art than to those following a standard tourist route — worth combining with a visit to other villages in the Vyškov District.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the statues of St. Florian and St. Wendelin located? On the "U svatých" bridge over the Račický stream, in the centre of Račice village in the Vyškov District, South Moravia.

When was the bridge built and when were the statues erected? The bridge dates from 1744, and the statues themselves are attributed to the first half of the 18th century.

Why St. Florian and St. Wendelin specifically? They form a classic pair of rural patron saints in Central Europe — Florian protected against fire, Wendelin watched over shepherds and livestock.

Are all parts of the bridge original? Not entirely — of the four stone pinecone ornaments on the bridge, two were added only in 1999 during restoration work.

Is the sculptor known? No, available sources do not confirm the authorship of the statues — only that they were created in the first half of the 18th century in the Baroque style.