statue of Saint John of Nepomuk in Břevnov Monastery

The Statue of Saint John of Nepomuk stands within the grounds of Břevnov Monastery in Prague — the oldest men's monastery in the Czech lands, founded in 993. The Baroque figure depicts one of the country's most recognisable saints and is one of the smaller but distinctive features of the monastery courtyard's decoration.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The figure is located in the northwestern corner of the courtyard of Břevnov Monastery, in a quiet part of the monastic complex away from the main flow of visitors around the Basilica of St Margaret. It's worth a stop while touring the monastery grounds and the Břevnovský klášterní pivovar, the brewery that has operated on the same site since the abbey's foundation.

Who created the statue?

The Baroque figure was made by Karel Josef Hiernle, a Prague sculptor active during the Baroque period whose work also decorates other religious sites in and around Prague. The statue itself consists of two parts: a profiled pedestal and the standing figure of the saint above it.

What does the statue look like?

Saint John of Nepomuk is shown in the contrapposto pose typical of this kind of devotional statue — standing with his left leg relaxed, dressed in canonical vestments. The outfit is completed by a fur-trimmed mozetta (a short cape) finished with a hood whose rolled edge frames the saint's neck. The clothing clearly marks the figure as a high-ranking cleric — historically, John of Nepomuk served as vicar general of the Archdiocese of Prague in the 14th century.

Why John of Nepomuk specifically?

John of Nepomuk (d. 1393) is one of the most frequently depicted saints in Czech sculpture and across the former Habsburg lands. According to tradition, he was drowned in the Vltava on the orders of King Wenceslaus IV after refusing to break the seal of the queen's confession. Canonised in 1729, he became a patron saint of the Czech lands and a protector against floods and water-related misfortune — which is why his statues were traditionally placed by bridges, rivers and wells, but also at churches and monasteries, as at Břevnov.

What should visitors know about the monastery itself?

Břevnov Monastery is the oldest men's monastery on the territory of today's Czech Republic, founded in 993 by Prince Boleslaus II and Bishop Adalbert (St Adalbert). Over more than a thousand years the complex was rebuilt several times, and its present Baroque appearance — including the courtyard where this statue stands — largely dates from reconstructions carried out in the 18th century. Most of the courtyard's sculptural decoration, including this statue, comes from that same period.

What should visitors know before going?

The statue is a small but worthwhile stop when visiting Břevnov Monastery — a few minutes spent in the courtyard pair well with a visit to the Basilica of St Margaret and the Romanesque crypt beneath the church.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the statue of Saint John of Nepomuk? In the northwestern corner of the courtyard at Břevnov Monastery in Prague.

Who made the statue? Prague Baroque sculptor Karel Josef Hiernle.

How is the saint depicted? Standing with his left leg relaxed, wearing canonical vestments with a fur-trimmed mozetta and hood.

Why is John of Nepomuk depicted here? He is one of the most popular Czech saints, a patron protecting against floods and water, known for refusing to break the seal of confession.

What is Břevnov Monastery? The oldest men's monastery in the Czech Republic, founded in 993 by Prince Boleslaus II and St Adalbert.