statue of sitting Goethe in Mariánské Lázně

The statue of the seated Goethe is a small but recognizable sculpture standing on Goethe Square (Goethovo náměstí) in Mariánské Lázně, in the Cheb district of the Karlovy Vary region. It depicts the German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe seated, and it is one of the town's landmarks, closely tied to the poet's visits to this Bohemian spa.

What does the statue show, and exactly where does it stand?

The sculpture portrays Goethe in a seated pose and occupies the central spot of the square named after him in Mariánské Lázně. For decades this location has been associated with the memory of the poet - which is also why the square itself carries his name.

What is the history behind this statue?

The current sculpture is not the original. The first monument to Goethe on this spot was unveiled in 1932, on the hundredth anniversary of the poet's death (Goethe died in 1832), and it was created by the sculptor Willy Russe. That earlier monument did not survive the Second World War - it was destroyed in 1943. The site then remained without a statue for decades, until 1993, when a new sculpture by the Czech artist Vítězslav Eibl was unveiled on the same spot. It is this postwar work that visitors see on Goethe Square today.

What connects Goethe to Mariánské Lázně?

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe repeatedly visited Mariánské Lázně (known in German as Marienbad) during the 1820s, treating the spa town as a place of rest and creative inspiration. One of his stays in the town is linked to the story of his unrequited affection for the much younger Ulrike von Levetzow, which inspired one of his most personal late works, the Marienbad Elegy. This episode from the writer's life is one of the reasons his figure remains permanently woven into the town's identity, reflected both in the square and in the statue that stands on it.

Why is this statue worth seeing?

For visitors to Mariánské Lázně, the statue of the seated Goethe is an easy-to-find landmark in the town center and a chance to pause at a spot that has commemorated one of the spa's most famous guests for nearly a century. It also makes a good starting point for a walk through the historic part of town, whose story is closely intertwined with the poet's own.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the statue of the seated Goethe stand? On Goethe Square (Goethovo náměstí) in the center of Mariánské Lázně, in the Cheb district of the Karlovy Vary region.

Is this the original 1932 statue? No. The original sculpture by Willy Russe from 1932 was destroyed in 1943. The current statue is the work of Vítězslav Eibl, unveiled in 1993 on the same site.

Why does Goethe have a statue specifically in Mariánské Lázně? The poet visited this spa town repeatedly during the 1820s, and one of his stays inspired the Marienbad Elegy, written after his relationship with Ulrike von Levetzow.

Is this the only statue of Goethe in town? No - the spa park in Mariánské Lázně also has a separate sculptural group, "Goethe and the Muse," which is a different memorial to the poet.

How long did the original statue stand before it was destroyed? The original 1932 sculpture stood for just over a decade - until 1943, when it was destroyed during the Second World War.