Statue of Saint Florian

The Statue of Saint Florian stands on Barborská Street in Kutná Hora, right beside St Barbara's Cathedral — one of the most recognisable landmarks of this UNESCO-listed Czech town. The sculpture belongs to a longer row of Baroque statues of saints lined up along this ceremonial street leading to the cathedral, together forming an open-air gallery of stone figures.

Who made the statue and when?

The statue was created by Franz Baugut. Its date of origin is recorded through a chronogram carved into the inscription on the pedestal, which art historians have read as the year 1745. That places the work firmly in the high Baroque period, a time when Kutná Hora, though past the peak wealth of its medieval silver-mining boom, still invested in the decorative programme of its most important streets and squares.

What does the statue look like?

The figure rests on a sturdy, multi-tiered base topped with a pillar and a plinth that carries the saint himself. Florian is rendered at life size rather than as a miniature or an oversized monument, which gives the encounter with the figure a direct, human quality for anyone walking past. He is dressed in the garments of a Roman legionnaire, with a cloak fastened at the right shoulder — a costume that follows the traditional iconography of this saint, rooted in his biography as a Roman official and soldier.

Why Saint Florian specifically?

Saint Florian is one of the most frequently depicted figures in Central European Baroque outdoor sculpture, especially in towns that had historically suffered from fires — he is venerated as the patron saint of firefighters and protector against fire. Placing his image along the main walking route toward St Barbara's Cathedral reflects a wider custom of commissioning such statues as votive offerings and expressions of public piety.

Where exactly is the statue located?

The monument stands in the historic district of Kutná Hora-Vnitřní Město, the old town core, on Barborská Street — the route almost every visitor takes when walking from the town centre toward St Barbara's Cathedral. Thanks to this location, the statue is easy to reach on foot and fits naturally into any sightseeing route covering the town's principal monuments.

Frequently asked questions

Who created the Statue of Saint Florian in Kutná Hora? It was made by Franz Baugut in 1745, a date recorded through the chronogram on the pedestal.

Where does the statue stand? On Barborská Street in the Vnitřní Město district, next to St Barbara's Cathedral in Kutná Hora.

In what style is the statue made? It is a typical Baroque outdoor sculpture, showing the saint in the garb of a Roman legionnaire, at life size, set on a multi-tiered pedestal bearing an inscription.

Is it the only statue on this street? No — the Statue of Saint Florian is part of a larger group of Baroque statues of saints that line Barborská Street along its entire length up to the cathedral.

Why is Saint Florian the chosen patron here? Florian is the traditional patron saint of firefighters and protector against fire, which is why his image was commonly commissioned in towns historically at risk from blazes.