Statue of Jan Perner in Pardubice

The Statue of Jan Perner is a bronze monument standing right in front of the main railway station in Pardubice, honoring the Czech engineer whose work turned the city into a railway hub — and whose name is still carried by the square where the sculpture stands.

Where exactly is the statue located?

The statue stands on náměstí Jana Pernera, directly in front of the railway station building in the Zelené Předměstí district, within the Pardubice I municipal district. The location is not arbitrary: Perner is the reason Pardubice became a railway junction in the first place, so his monument greets thousands of travelers passing through the station square every day.

Who created the statue, and when was it unveiled?

The sculpture was created by academic sculptor Jaroslav Brož, a native of Pardubice. The official unveiling, marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, took place on 27 June 2017. Installing the monument was part of a large-scale reconstruction of the station forecourt, which created an integrated transport hub linking rail with city and regional bus connections.

What does the statue look like?

The monument is cast in bronze and takes a realistic, portrait-like approach to depicting the engineer rather than following any single stylistic movement. It stands in an open, visible spot on the square, positioned so it can be seen both by passengers stepping off trains and by people walking between the station and the city center.

Who was Jan Perner?

Jan Perner (1815–1845) was a Czech civil and railway engineer, one of the pioneers of railway construction in the Czech lands during the first half of the 19th century. He led the construction of one of the era's most important railway lines, connecting Olomouc with Prague — a route running directly through Pardubice. It was this project that gave Pardubice its strategic rail connection, permanently shaping the city's development as a transport hub. Perner died young, at just thirty years old, following an accident during railway construction work. His early death did not diminish his legacy: he is remembered as one of the key figures of 19th-century Czech railway engineering.

Why does the statue stand specifically in Pardubice?

Perner's connection to the city is neither incidental nor purely symbolic — it was his engineering work that directly turned Pardubice into a significant point on the Czech railway map. The square in front of the station had already carried his name — náměstí Jana Pernera — before the statue existed; the 2017 unveiling simply added a physical, visible tribute to that existing commemoration, timed to coincide with the modernization of the entire transport hub.

What should visitors know before stopping by?

The statue is easy to find: it's visible right outside the main station building in Pardubice. It works well as a landmark for travelers passing through by rail, and it doubles as a quick history lesson on local transport. It's worth noting that Pardubice also has an earlier tribute to Perner in the form of a separate bust, created independently of this 2017 bronze statue — if you're looking for this specific monument, head for náměstí Jana Pernera right at the station.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jan Perner? A Czech railway engineer (1815–1845) who led construction of the Olomouc–Prague railway line through Pardubice and died in an accident during construction work.

Where exactly does the statue stand? On náměstí Jana Pernera, directly in front of the main railway station in Pardubice.

Who created the sculpture? Academic sculptor Jaroslav Brož, a Pardubice native.

When was the statue unveiled? On 27 June 2017, as part of the reconstruction of the station forecourt.

What material is the statue made of? Bronze.

Why does the statue stand right next to the station? Because Perner's engineering work is what gave Pardubice its railway connection, shaping the city into a transport hub.