Statue of John of Nepomuk in Jáchymov

The Statue of John of Nepomuk in Jáchymov is a Baroque sandstone sculpture standing since 1730 in the upper part of this historic mining town in the Krušné hory (Ore Mountains), close to the German border. It depicts the saint as a canon, pressing a crucifix to his chest — the attribute by which he is most commonly recognized across Bohemia.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The statue stands in the upper part of Jáchymov, in the space between the Church of St. James and the town hall — right in the heart of the historic centre of a town once famous for minting silver thalers. It was not always here, though: originally the sculpture stood by a small bridge over the Veseřice stream. Today that stream runs mostly underground beneath the town, so the statue's original connection to water is no longer visible on the surface — yet that proximity to a bridge and a stream is exactly why the location was chosen in the first place. John of Nepomuk is venerated as a protector against floods and water-related misfortune.

Who made it, and when?

The statue was created in 1730 by the sculptor Zeidler of Ostrov, a nearby town. It was carved just a year after John of Nepomuk's canonization in 1729, which explains why so many towns across Bohemia and Moravia erected similar statues of the saint around the same time. The whole monument, including its pedestal, stands four metres tall.

What does the statue look like?

The saint is shown as a clergyman in canon's vestments, holding a crucifix pressed to his chest with his left hand while his right hand supports it. Originally, five stars encircled his head — a reference to the legend of stars said to have appeared above the Vltava river at the spot where the saint drowned. This is the classic iconography found throughout the Czech lands, though the specific carving here carries the stylistic hallmarks of early-18th-century Baroque sculpture.

Why John of Nepomuk specifically?

John of Nepomuk (14th century, martyred in 1393) is one of the most important Czech saints — a canon of Prague Cathedral who, according to tradition, was drowned in the Vltava on the orders of King Wenceslaus IV for refusing to break the seal of confession. After his canonization in 1729, devotion to him spread rapidly, and statues of Nepomuk placed by bridges, rivers, and town squares became one of the most recognizable features of the Baroque Bohemian landscape — erected as expressions of gratitude for protection from floods and disaster.

What else is worth knowing about Jáchymov?

Jáchymov experienced a genuine mining boom in the 16th century after rich silver deposits were discovered nearby. It was here that the famous silver thalers — the Joachimsthaler coins — were minted, giving rise to the word "dollar" still used today. The upper part of town, where this statue stands, is the oldest and most representative part of the historic centre, clustered around the Church of St. James and the town hall.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly does the statue of John of Nepomuk stand? In the upper part of Jáchymov, between the Church of St. James and the town hall.

Who sculpted it? The sculptor Zeidler of Ostrov.

When was it made? In 1730, a year after the saint's canonization.

How tall is the statue? Four metres, including the pedestal.

Where did the statue originally stand? By a small bridge over the Veseřice stream, which today runs mostly underground.

Why are statues of John of Nepomuk so common in Czech towns? Because he is venerated as a protector against floods, and devotion to him spread rapidly after his canonization in 1729.