Statue of Gabriel in Telč

The statue of the Archangel Gabriel stands at the very end of the Na Dlážkách path in Telč's Old Town (Staré Město), right in front of the gate leading into the churchyard cemetery. Together with the neighboring statue of the Virgin Mary, it forms a two-figure Annunciation scene — the closing note of the whole row of Baroque statues running from the pond dam toward the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The figure marks the end of the Na Dlážkách walking path, running along the bank of the Staroměstský pond, and stands on the right side of the composition, facing its companion piece, Mary, on the left — the last stop on the lane before a visitor steps onto the churchyard grounds.

What role does this figure play in the Annunciation scene?

Gabriel is shown here as the heavenly messenger — the figure who, according to the biblical account, brings Mary the news that she will bear Christ. Baroque sacred sculpture typically shows the archangel in this scene turning toward Mary, signaling the arrival of divine news — a reading supported by how the two figures at the end of the route are positioned facing each other.

What does the pedestal look like?

The figure of Gabriel rests on a simple, rectangular pedestal with a slightly tapering shaft and a profiled plinth, topped by a projecting, profiled cornice — the same type of base used for every other statue along the route, giving the whole ensemble a consistent, unified appearance.

Who carved the statue?

The whole ensemble of seven to nine Baroque figures along Na Dlážkách, including the Annunciation pair closing the route, was created between 1742 and 1749 by sculptor Kašpar Ober, who came from Kostelec (Questenberg). Researchers link the funding of the whole project to a local burghers' sodality devoted to the Purification of the Virgin Mary, active under Jesuit guidance.

What was the purpose of the whole row of statues?

The sequence of figures along Na Dlážkách functioned as a "holy path" — saintly images meant to gradually prepare a pilgrim heading toward the church for prayer and reflection. Along the route stand, among others, a Guardian Angel, the Archangel Michael, St. John of Nepomuk, and the Archangel Raphael, with the sequence closing in the double Annunciation group — Gabriel and Mary — at the cemetery entrance. The path itself was paved between 1798 and 1810 by hospital chaplain Ignác Chornitzer, laid with large rectangular stone slabs — the source of its name (dlažba is Czech for paving).

What lies beyond the cemetery gate?

Behind the statue of Gabriel lies the churchyard cemetery, with gravestones dating back to the 16th century and a chapel of St. Roch from 1652. The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, the destination of the whole route, traces its tradition back to 1099 and preserves Gothic elements predating 1386.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the Archangel Gabriel stand right next to the statue of Mary? The two statues together form the Annunciation scene — the biblical moment when Gabriel tells Mary she will conceive Christ. They were placed facing each other on opposite sides of the path to form a single, legible composition.

Who made the statue? Kašpar Ober, the sculptor responsible for the whole set of Baroque statues along the Na Dlážkách path, created between 1742 and 1749.

How do you get to the statue? On foot, following the Na Dlážkách path along the Staroměstský pond from the direction of the dam toward the Old Town — the statue of Gabriel stands at the very end of the route, right before the cemetery gate, on the right-hand side.

Is this the only statue of Gabriel in Telč? On the Na Dlážkách route, Gabriel appears as part of the Annunciation pair — distinct from the separately standing Archangel Raphael and Archangel Michael on the same path, each with its own pedestal.

Is it worth seeing just this statue, or the whole route? Gabriel makes the most sense as part of the closing Annunciation scene — walking the full route from the dam, pausing at each earlier figure, takes 20 to 30 minutes and reveals the whole ensemble's design as a "holy path" to the church.