Statue of Ladislav Jan Pospíšil in Hradec Králové

The Monument to Ladislav Jan Pospíšil stands in Hradec Králové, at the entrance to Československé armády street near Pospíšilova třída, on the edge of Žižkovy sady park. It is a bronze bust on a granite pedestal, dedicated to a deputy mayor of the city remembered above all for demolishing its old fortifications.

Who was Ladislav Jan Pospíšil?

Ladislav Jan Pospíšil was born on 24 December 1848 in Trutnov and died on 6 March 1893. By profession he was a bookseller and the owner of a printing house, and in Hradec Králové he served as deputy mayor. It was Pospíšil who drove through the demolition of the Josephine fortifications encircling the city and the city's acquisition of the former military fortress grounds. He also played a part in establishing the city museum. The inscription on the pedestal — "Lad. Jan Pospíšil, osvoboditel města od pout hradebních" — literally names him as the liberator of the city from the bonds of its fortress walls.

Why did demolishing the fortifications matter so much?

For decades Hradec Králové had functioned as a fortress town, ringed by walls that constrained its physical growth. The demolition of the fortifications, which began on 4 August 1894, opened the way for the city to expand beyond the old defensive perimeter. The monument stands roughly where that demolition began — today the area of Žižkovy sady park — symbolically tying the memory of the old walls to the new, open urban space that replaced them.

What does the monument look like, and who designed it?

The bust was created by sculptor Josef Václav Škoda (1901–1949), while the pedestal and overall composition were designed by architect Jan Rejchl (1899–1985). The original plan was to build the pedestal from stones taken from the demolished fortifications, but forty years after the demolition no suitable blocks could be found, and granite was used instead. The bust portrays Pospíšil with an easy, light bearing, holding plans or documents in his hand and wearing a pleasant smile — presenting him as both an intellectual and a politician.

When was it unveiled, and what happened to it during the war?

The monument was unveiled on 25 June 1933. During the German occupation it was taken down by the occupying authorities, who regarded it as a dangerous symbol of better times. It was fortunate enough to avoid being melted down or lost, and after the war it returned to its original site: it was reinstalled on 7 October 1946, with the participation of its own sculptor, Josef Václav Škoda.

Is the monument worth seeing?

It's a small but meaningful piece of Hradec Králové's history, marking the turning point when the city's medieval-to-early-modern fortress began turning into an open, expanding city. For visitors exploring the area around Pospíšilova třída and Žižkovy sady, it makes a natural, brief stop that pairs a walk through the park with a short lesson in local history.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the monument to Ladislav Jan Pospíšil stand? At the entrance to Československé armády street near Pospíšilova třída, on the edge of Žižkovy sady park in Hradec Králové.

Who was Ladislav Jan Pospíšil? A bookseller, printing house owner and deputy mayor of Hradec Králové (1848–1893), known for driving the demolition of the city's fortifications.

Who designed the monument? The bust was created by sculptor Josef Václav Škoda, and the pedestal was designed by architect Jan Rejchl.

When was the monument unveiled? On 25 June 1933.

What happened to it during World War II? It was removed by the German occupying authorities as a dangerous symbol, but survived and was reinstalled on 7 October 1946.

What material is the monument made of? A bronze bust set on a granite pedestal.