statue of Saint Barbara near Staňkova Lhota

The statue of Saint Barbara near Staňkova Lhota stands on a small rise at a road junction leading toward Jičín and Libáň, just above the village of Staňkova Lhota, a part of the town of Sobotka in the Jičín District of the Czech Republic. It belongs to a large family of roadside saint statues that, since the 18th century, marked important crossroads and village boundaries across the Czech countryside, serving both a devotional purpose and a practical role as a landmark for travelers.

When was the statue created?

The statue dates back to 1773 and represents the late Baroque style that dominated religious art in the Czech lands at the time. It was carved from sandstone, a material widely available in the region and favored by local stonemasons for roadside statues and wayside shrines. The figure stands on a small mound-like elevation, next to which grows a linden tree — a species traditionally associated in Czech folk culture with places of remembrance and sacred significance.

How is the monument structured?

The composition follows a layout typical of Baroque wayside statues. A low, cubic base is topped with a perforated cornice. Above it rises a slender pillar, itself finished with a multiply profiled, perforated cornice, on which the figure of the saint is finally placed. This arrangement of base, pillar, and statue allowed the figure to be raised above eye level so it could be seen clearly by anyone passing through the crossroads.

How is Saint Barbara depicted?

The figure shows the saint in life-size proportions, posed in the strongly S-curved stance characteristic of Baroque sculpture. One arm, slightly bent, hangs along the body, its hand holding a sword — one of Saint Barbara's traditional attributes, referencing her martyrdom. The other arm is raised and bent toward the chest, holding a chalice, another attribute closely tied to her cult. Saint Barbara is venerated as the patron of miners, metalworkers, and people in dangerous professions, and is also invoked for protection against sudden death.

Why is this spot worth a stop?

This is not a headline attraction, but it makes for an interesting waypoint for anyone traveling between Sobotka and Jičín, or exploring the quieter, rural corners of the Český ráj (Bohemian Paradise) region, to which the area around Sobotka belongs both administratively and scenically. Baroque wayside shrines and statues like this one form a scattered network of small monuments across the countryside, and seeking them out offers a glimpse into the rhythm of rural life in earlier centuries, when travel between villages was often marked by a prayer at the next roadside saint.

Frequently asked questions

When was the statue made? In 1773, during the late Baroque period.

What material is it made of? Sandstone, typical of local religious stone-carving traditions.

Where exactly does it stand? On a rise at the road junction toward Jičín and Libáň, above the village of Staňkova Lhota, part of Sobotka in the Jičín District.

What attributes does Saint Barbara hold? A sword in one hand and a chalice in the other, both traditional symbols tied to her martyrdom and patronage.

Is there anything notable growing nearby? Yes, a linden tree grows next to the mound on which the statue stands.