Statue of John Neumann in Prachatice

The statue of Saint John Neumann stands in a park next to the convent of the Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo in Prachatice, close to the town's historic centre. The bronze figure honours a local-born man who left this small South Bohemian town to become a bishop in Philadelphia and, eventually, a canonised saint of the Catholic Church — a rare case of a Czech town commemorating someone far better known abroad than at home.

Who was John Neumann?

John Nepomucene Neumann was born on 28 March 1811 in Prachatice. He emigrated to the United States, where he devoted his life to the Catholic Church and became Bishop of Philadelphia. He died on 5 January 1860 in Philadelphia. He was later canonised as a saint, making him one of the few saints with roots directly in the Czech lands, even though he spent most of his adult life and priestly service in North America.

Where did the statue come from?

The monument wasn't a purely local initiative — it was a gift to Neumann's hometown from an American woman of Italian descent, Ms. di Coco of Philadelphia. The bronze figure was made in Italy and arrived in Prachatice in 2003. Before it found its permanent home in the park, it stood for a time inside the Church of St. James the Elder, one of the town's most important churches.

Why is the statue in this particular park?

The park where the statue stands today belongs to the convent and hospice run by the Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo. It was officially opened on 31 May 2007, and the statue of Saint John Neumann naturally became its focal point — a spot that combines the function of a quiet green space with that of a memorial, reminding both residents and visitors of Prachatice's most famous native son.

What should visitors know about this spot?

The statue sits in a calm, green corner of town, away from the main tourist flow around the square and the historic burgher houses. It's a good place to pause during a walk through Prachatice, and it also reveals a side of the town's history that's easy to miss: alongside its Gothic and Renaissance architecture and its role on the historic Golden Trail (Zlatá stezka), Prachatice has a transatlantic story too, tied to one of its own who became an American saint.

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Neumann and why does he have a statue in Prachatice? He was born in Prachatice in 1811, emigrated to the United States, became Bishop of Philadelphia, and was later canonised as a saint. The statue in his hometown commemorates his origins.

Who donated the statue? It was donated to the town in 2003 by Ms. di Coco, an American woman of Italian descent from Philadelphia.

Where exactly is the statue located? In a park next to the convent of the Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo in Prachatice, officially opened on 31 May 2007.

Has the statue always stood in the same spot? No — after arriving in Prachatice in 2003, it first stood inside the Church of St. James the Elder before being moved to the park.

What is the statue made of? It's a bronze figure, made in Italy.