Statue of St. John of Nepomuk

The Statue of St. John of Nepomuk stands along the Na Dlážkách path in Telč's Old Town (Staré Město), right on the shore of the Staroměstský pond. It is one of several Baroque sculptures lined up along the same lane, so it is easy to confuse with other statues of the same saint elsewhere in Telč — each one, however, marks a different spot with its own setting.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The figure sits on the Na Dlážkách walking path, which descends from below the pond dam toward the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in the Old Town. Its approximate coordinates are 49.1805°N, 15.4547°E. The statue is listed on the Czech Republic's register of cultural monuments under catalogue number 1000127973, confirming its protected status as part of the town's historic streetscape.

What is the Na Dlážkách path?

The path was paved around 1800 on the initiative of the hospital chaplain Ignác Chornitzer. It runs along the bank of the Staroměstský pond, connecting the area below the dam with the churchyard on the Old Town side. It is a quiet, shaded lane offering views across the water — on clear days the towers of Telč's historic core reflect on the pond's surface.

What other statues line the same route?

A whole series of Baroque figures stands along Na Dlážkách: a Guardian Angel, the Archangel Michael, St. John of Nepomuk, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Wendelin, and the Archangel Raphael. The route ends near the cemetery gate with a double Annunciation group depicting the Archangel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary. Lining a single path with this kind of sculptural sequence was a common way of marking a processional route in Central European towns during the 18th century.

What waits at the end of the walk?

The path leads to the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, traditionally said to have been founded in 1099. It preserves Gothic elements from before 1386, while its originally flat-ceilinged nave was rebuilt in Baroque style in 1647 and given a three-aisle layout. Inside stand Baroque organs from the early 18th century, alongside Telč's oldest bell, cast in 1515. Next to the church lies a cemetery with gravestones dating back to the 16th century and a chapel of St. Roch from 1652.

Frequently asked questions

Who was St. John of Nepomuk? A 14th-century Czech priest and vicar general of Prague, whose death in the Vltava River in 1393 made him one of the most frequently depicted saints in Central Europe — his statues were traditionally placed near bridges, dams, and waterside paths.

Why does Telč have several monuments to the same saint? The town has a strong tradition of Baroque devotional sculpture, and the cult of a saint associated with water suited a town ringed by ponds particularly well — hence several independent statues appearing in different parts of Telč, including this one along Na Dlážkách.

How do you get to the statue? The easiest approach is on foot from the dam separating the Staroměstský pond, following the Na Dlážkách path toward the Old Town; the walk from the town center takes only a few minutes.

Is it a legally protected monument? Yes, the statue is entered in the Czech Republic's register of cultural monuments under catalogue number 1000127973.

How long does the whole walk take? Covering the full route from the dam to the church and cemetery, pausing at each statue along the way, usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes at an unhurried pace.