Statue of Saint George at Prague Castle

The Statue of Saint George at Prague Castle is a bronze equestrian monument showing the knight in combat with a dragon, standing in the third courtyard of Prague Castle right next to St. Vitus Cathedral. Cast in 1373, it ranks among the most important works of late-medieval bronze sculpture in Central Europe.

Who created the statue?

The work was made by the brothers Martin and Georg of Cluj (today Cluj-Napoca in Romania), Transylvanian Saxon craftsmen recorded in sources as masters "of Clussenberch." The casting most likely took place in Nagyvárad, today's Oradea, where two other works by the same brothers once stood on the cathedral square. Those pieces survived there until the 17th century, when they were melted down for their metal during the wars against the Ottomans. The Prague Saint George is therefore one of the few surviving testimonies to their workshop.

What does the statue show?

The composition shows a rider on a horse turned to the left, stepping over rocky ground inhabited by snakes and lizards. The horse rears up and twists its head back toward the dragon, giving the whole scene a dynamism rarely seen in sculpture of this period. The monument stands just under two meters tall and is executed at roughly three-quarters life size, yet it feels considerably larger thanks to the twisting, lifelike pose of the figures.

The scene draws on the legend of Saint George, who is said to have rescued a Libyan king's daughter from a dragon and then killed the beast in exchange for a promise that the kingdom's people would be baptized. The subject was popular in medieval art as a symbol of good triumphing over evil and a model of knightly courage and self-sacrifice.

Original or copy?

The monument visitors see in the courtyard today is a replica. The medieval original from 1373 has survived and is on display in an exhibition on the history of Prague Castle, housed in the Old Royal Palace just steps away from where the copy now stands. This lets visitors compare the two versions — the monumental copy exposed to the elements outdoors, and the original work kept safe from weathering indoors.

Why is this statue worth seeing?

Art historians regard the sculpture as an outstanding example of the High Gothic style, one in which some already detect anticipations of solutions later associated with the Renaissance, particularly in how movement and tension are built into the composition. As a result, the Saint George in the third courtyard is among the most frequently photographed details of Prague Castle, even though the wider castle complex offers far larger and more famous attractions, such as St. Vitus Cathedral or Golden Lane.

Where exactly is it located?

The statue stands in the third courtyard of Prague Castle, directly beside St. Vitus Cathedral and the Old Royal Palace. It occupies one of the central points of the castle complex, so finding it takes no special effort — most visiting routes pass right by it.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Statue of Saint George at Prague Castle made? It was created in 1373, making it one of the oldest surviving bronze sculptures of its kind in the region.

Who made the statue? It was made by the brothers Martin and Georg of Cluj, Transylvanian Saxon craftsmen who most likely cast the work in Nagyvárad.

Is the statue in the courtyard the original? No — it is a copy. The 14th-century original is displayed in an exhibition on the history of Prague Castle in the Old Royal Palace.

What does the statue depict? Saint George on horseback at the moment of fighting a dragon — the horse rears up and the rider turns toward the beast, referencing the legend of the rescued princess.

Where exactly does the statue stand? In the third courtyard of Prague Castle, right next to St. Vitus Cathedral and the Old Royal Palace.