Statue of John of Nepomuk with angels

The Statue of St. John of Nepomuk with Angels stands on the southern edge of Borovany, a small town in South Bohemia, right next to a historic bridge over the Stropnice River. This is not the famous statue tourists know from Prague's Charles Bridge — it's a separate, much more modest local monument, commissioned by the town's own monastery and part of the local landscape for nearly three centuries.

Who commissioned the statue and when was it made?

The Baroque statue dates from 1735. It was commissioned by František Plank, prior of the Augustinian monastery in Borovany, making it one of the oldest religious monuments in town standing outside the monastery walls themselves. The sculptor's name has not survived in the monument's documentation — the workshop or artist behind the work remains unknown.

What does the statue look like and what is it made of?

The figure of the saint was carved from shell limestone in a late Baroque style. St. John of Nepomuk — a priest and confessor venerated as a protector against floods and drowning — is depicted together with a small angel figure holding a crucifix, which is where the monument gets its name. The whole composition rests on a pedestal decorated with volutes; its front face carries a Latin inscription composed as a chronogram, with the statue's completion year encoded in the Roman numerals of the text.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The monument sits south of Borovany's town center, alongside road 157, right next to the old bridge over the Stropnice River. The spot lies along a red-marked hiking trail and an educational path dedicated to the history of totalitarianism, so visitors can combine a short stop at the statue with a longer walk through the surrounding area. Access is free and unrestricted, with no admission fee.

What happened to the original statue?

The original 18th-century shell-limestone figure no longer stands at its historic spot by the bridge — due to its state of preservation, it was moved to the grounds of Borovany chateau nearby, where it is better protected from weathering. A copy now stands in its place at the original site: first also carved from shell limestone, later replaced with a version in artificial stone for better durability against erosion. The monument has been listed as a protected cultural heritage site since April 1, 2005.

Is it worth stopping here?

This is a small, low-key stop for anyone exploring Borovany and the grounds of its Augustinian monastery — not a destination worth a dedicated trip on its own, but a natural point along a walk beside the Stropnice River. It's worth noting the protected small-leaved linden tree growing right next to the statue: 29 meters tall with a trunk circumference of 520 centimeters, making it one of the oldest and most impressive trees in the area and a small natural curiosity in its own right.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the same statue as the one on Charles Bridge in Prague? No. This is a separate, local statue in Borovany in South Bohemia, unrelated to the famous figure on Prague's Charles Bridge.

When was the statue in Borovany made? In 1735, commissioned by František Plank, prior of the local Augustinian monastery.

Where is the original statue now? Due to its condition, the original was moved to the grounds of Borovany chateau. A copy now stands at the original spot by the bridge over the Stropnice River.

Is there an admission fee to see the monument? No, the site is freely accessible at no cost, located along road 157 south of the town center.

Are there other things to see nearby? Yes — the bridge over the Stropnice River, a red-marked hiking trail, the "Totalita rozděluje" educational path, and a protected, sizeable small-leaved linden tree growing right next to the statue.