About this place
The statue of František Ladislav Rieger stands in the southwestern part of Riegrovy sady in Prague's Vinohrady district, close to the junction of Italská and Na Smetance streets. It is one of the few Prague monuments dedicated specifically to a 19th-century politician whose name was given to the park where it stands.
Who does the statue depict?
The bronze figure represents František Ladislav Rieger, a Czech politician and one of the leading public figures of 19th-century Czech life. The sculpture shows him in what is described as an orator's stance, a pose typical of someone addressing a public audience, reflecting his role as a political speaker and activist.
Who created the monument?
The statue was made by Josef Václav Myslbek, one of the most important Czech sculptors working at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The figure was created between 1913 and 1914, and the finished monument was unveiled in April 1915.
What is the monument made of?
The figure of Rieger was cast in bronze. The casting was carried out by master founder V. Mašek of Karlín, a fact recorded in an inscription on the back of the pedestal. The statue stands on a tall pedestal, roughly four meters high, built from rough, unworked granite blocks, giving the whole composition a monumental and austere character.
What does the inscription on the monument say?
The front of the pedestal bears the inscription "Nedejme se!", a motto attributed to Rieger that translates roughly as "We shall not yield!" or "Let's not give up!". It reflects his political stance and serves as a kind of personal motto for the commemorated figure.
Who paid for the monument?
Funding for the monument came from Vinohradská záložna, a local Vinohrady savings and loan cooperative that operated in this part of Prague around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The fact that a local financial institution financed the statue reflects the importance Rieger held for Vinohrady residents at the time it was erected.
Has the monument been restored?
Yes, the monument underwent restoration in 2004. The conservation work covered both the bronze figure and the stone pedestal, allowing the monument to remain in a condition suitable for permanent outdoor display in the park.
Where exactly in the park is the statue located?
The statue stands in the southwestern part of Riegrovy sady, near the junction of Italská and Na Smetance streets, in the Vinohrady district (Prague 2). Its geographic coordinates are 50.079492, 14.437978. This location makes it easily accessible to visitors entering the park from Italská street, one of the main streets of Vinohrady.
Frequently asked questions
Who was František Ladislav Rieger? The statue depicts a 19th-century Czech politician after whom the surrounding park, Riegrovy sady, is named.
Who designed the statue? The sculptor was Josef Václav Myslbek, a Czech artist active at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
When was the statue unveiled? The monument was unveiled in April 1915, although the figure itself was created earlier, between 1913 and 1914.
What material was used for the statue? The figure is cast in bronze and stands on a pedestal of rough granite blocks about four meters high.
What does the inscription on the pedestal mean? The inscription "Nedejme se!" is a motto attributed to Rieger, expressing an attitude of resilience and refusal to give up.
Has the monument ever been restored? Yes, the last known restoration took place in 2004.
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