Statue of John of Nepomuk by the road in Lázně Kynžvart

The statue of St. John of Nepomuk by the road in Lázně Kynžvart is a Baroque sculpture standing along the route that once connected the local castle with the town, in a small spa settlement in the Karlovy Vary Region at the foot of the Ore Mountains. The monument dates back to 1705 and is one of two statues of the saint erected in Lázně Kynžvart during the Baroque period — a clear sign of how strongly the cult of this figure took hold across Bohemia at the time.

Who commissioned the statue?

The statue was funded by Maria Anna, Countess of Metternich-Winneburg, née Baroness von Bissingen, wife of the then lord of Kynžvart Castle. Her full title and the year 1705 are recorded in the inscription carved into the pedestal. Private funding of this kind, paid for by a member of the family that ruled the surrounding estate, was a common way for noble households in 18th-century Central Europe to display both piety and prestige — such roadside shrines and statues were believed to protect travelers, residents, and the patrons themselves from misfortune.

Why John of Nepomuk specifically?

John of Nepomuk, a Bohemian priest murdered in 1393 on the orders of King Wenceslaus IV, was not formally canonized until 1729, yet his veneration had already spread widely across the Bohemian lands from the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries onward. Regarded as the patron saint of bridges, rivers, sailors, and the seal of confession, he became one of the most frequently depicted figures of Baroque piety, with statues raised along roads, on bridges, and in town squares in almost every settlement of Bohemia and Moravia. The fact that Lázně Kynžvart alone acquired two such monuments illustrates just how widespread this practice was, even in small towns.

What does the statue look like?

The sculpture follows the typical form of a Baroque roadside statue of the saint: a figure in canonical vestments, wearing a biretta and holding a cross, set on a shaped pedestal bearing an inscribed plaque. Its placement along the road linking the castle with the town was no accident — this route served as the main communication link between the seat of power and the urban center, and statues of saints placed along such roads were meant to watch over travelers and residents alike.

What else is worth knowing about Lázně Kynžvart?

Lázně Kynžvart is a small spa town best known for its nearby castle, mineral springs, and a tradition of balneotherapy dating back to the 19th century. The statue of St. John of Nepomuk by the road is a modest but meaningful piece of the town's cultural landscape, worth a stop on a walk between the town center and the former castle grounds. It also stands as an example of the kind of small-scale sacred architecture typical of the Karlovy Vary region that has survived despite the turbulent history of the 20th century.

Frequently asked questions

When was the statue created? In 1705, as confirmed by the date inscribed on the pedestal alongside the founding inscription.

Who paid for the monument? Maria Anna, Countess of Metternich-Winneburg, wife of the lord of Kynžvart Castle.

Where exactly does the statue stand? Along the road that once connected Kynžvart Castle with the town of Lázně Kynžvart.

Is this the only statue of John of Nepomuk in town? No — it is the second statue of the saint erected in Lázně Kynžvart during the Baroque era, reflecting how popular his cult was in the region.

Why was St. John of Nepomuk often depicted near roads? As the patron saint of bridges and travelers, he was believed to watch over people moving along transport routes, which is why his statues were frequently placed in such locations.