Statue of Virgin Mary of Bozkov in Olešnice

The Statue of the Virgin Mary of Bozkov stands just outside the village of Olešnice in the Liberec Region, on the road leading toward neighbouring Jesenný, shaded by two large chestnut trees. It is one of many roadside copies of a Marian image originally venerated in nearby Bozkov, a devotional practice widespread across the Český ráj region during the 18th and 19th centuries.

How old is the statue?

The sculpture dates from the early 19th century. It was restored in 1877 by František Švitorka of Horská Kamenice — the only documented conservation intervention in its recorded history.

What is it made of, and what does it look like?

The figure is carved from sandstone. It stands on a stone base topped by a four-sided pedestal, whose shaft holds three niches with relief carvings of saints: Saint Francis on the front face, Saint Teresa on the right, and Saint Joseph on the left. Crowning the pedestal is a figure of the crowned Virgin Mary, holding a sceptre in her right hand and carrying the crowned Christ Child on her left arm. Both figures wear richly decorated, partly gilded robes — a detail that still sets this type of roadside Marian statue apart from the plainer, single-coloured figures common elsewhere in the region.

Where does the name "of Bozkov" come from?

The name refers to Bozkov, the village where the original image of Mary with the crowned Child was venerated. Copies of that image — like the one in Olešnice — were erected along roads as votive markers of faith, placed in locations that held significance for the local community.

Where exactly is the statue located?

The sculpture stands outside the built-up area of Olešnice, on the road toward Jesenný — a quiet, rural stretch of the route away from the village centre. Two large chestnut trees growing beside it serve as an easy landmark for finding the stone pedestal and figure.

Is it worth a stop on a trip through Český ráj?

The statue is not a destination in itself, but it fits naturally into a walking or cycling route around Olešnice and Jesenný, an area known for its sandstone rock formations and vernacular timber architecture. For anyone interested in local sacred art and settlement history, it is a small but genuine stop that shows how strongly the Marian cult from Bozkov shaped devotional practice in the surrounding villages.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Statue of the Virgin Mary of Bozkov located? Just outside the village of Olešnice, on the road toward Jesenný, between two large chestnut trees.

How old is the statue? It dates from the early 19th century; it was restored in 1877 by František Švitorka of Horská Kamenice.

What material was used to carve it? Sandstone — both the figure of Mary with the Child and the pedestal with its niches of saints.

What does the statue depict? A crowned Virgin Mary holding a sceptre in her right hand and carrying the crowned Christ Child on her left arm, both dressed in richly decorated, partly gilded robes. The pedestal contains three niche reliefs: Saint Francis, Saint Teresa, and Saint Joseph.

Where does the name "of Bozkov" come from? From the village of Bozkov, where the original of this Marian image was venerated; copies of it were later erected in many villages across the region, including Olešnice.