Statue of Saint John the Baptist in Lubno

The statue of Saint John the Baptist in Lubno is a Baroque sandstone sculpture standing in the village of Lubno, part of the town of Nechanice in the Hradec Králové district of the Czech Republic. Carved in the first half of the 18th century, the figure is set directly above the brick enclosure of a former village well, making it an unusual combination of devotional sculpture and everyday water source.

What does the statue look like?

Saint John the Baptist is shown in traditional iconography, with a lamb resting at his right side — a reference to the biblical "Lamb of God." The figure stands on a prismatic pedestal, its sides decorated with scroll-shaped ornaments and topped with a profiled cornice. Carved into the front of the pedestal is a relief coat of arms combining the emblems of the Schaffgotsch and Waldstein families, the sculpture's donors. Below the crest runs an inscription in archaic Czech: "Orodug za nás / Swatý Jene / Křtiteli" ("Pray for us, Saint John the Baptist"), typical of Baroque votive inscriptions of the period.

Why is it built over a well?

The pedestal with the statue sits within a small enclosure of square ground plan, with smooth walls and a sandstone-capped rim — in effect, the walls of an old village well. Pairing a sacred sculpture with a functional water source was not unheard of in 18th-century Bohemia, though it was less common than freestanding wayside shrines or columns; water was regarded as a gift worth placing under the protection of a patron saint.

Where did the statue come from?

According to local tradition, the sculpture was not originally made for Lubno — it was moved here from the grounds of a now-demolished castle in nearby Sadová. Its donors were members of the allied Schaffgotsch and Waldstein families, whose combined coat of arms still appears on the pedestal. After the castle residence disappeared, the statue found a new home in the village, where it now serves as a local landmark and a modest object of wayside devotion.

What is its protection status?

The statue, together with the well, has been listed as an immovable cultural monument of the Czech Republic since 3 May 1958. The protection covers the entire ensemble as a single unit — the sculpture itself, the pedestal with its coat of arms and inscription, and the brick-lined well enclosure.

Is it worth visiting?

Lubno lies off the main tourist routes, but for anyone interested in Baroque devotional sculpture and small-scale Czech village monuments, it makes a worthwhile stop — especially combined with a visit to Nechanice itself, which has its own château and historic centre. The statue stands in open village space and can be viewed freely at any time.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the statue of Saint John the Baptist located? In the village of Lubno, part of the town of Nechanice in the Hradec Králové district, in northeastern Bohemia.

When was the statue made? In the first half of the 18th century, in the Baroque style.

What material is it made of? Sandstone — both the figure itself and its pedestal and well surround.

Who commissioned the statue? Members of the allied Schaffgotsch and Waldstein families, whose coat of arms appears on the front of the pedestal.

Where did the statue originally stand? Tradition holds it was transferred here from a now-demolished castle in nearby Sadová.

Is the statue a protected monument? Yes, it has been listed as an immovable cultural monument of the Czech Republic since 3 May 1958, together with the well beneath it.

What does the inscription on the pedestal say? An archaic Czech text, "Orodug za nás / Swatý Jene / Křtiteli," a plea for the intercession of Saint John the Baptist.