Statues of John of Nepomuk in Lázně Bohdaneč

The statues of John of Nepomuk in Lázně Bohdaneč are two separate monuments to the Czech saint, standing in different corners of this small spa town in the Pardubice district. One occupies a prominent spot on Masaryk Square in the town centre, while the other stands apart, near the old mills on the road toward Rohovládová Bělá. Together they reflect how quickly the cult of the saint spread across Bohemia in the 18th century, following his beatification and canonization.

Where did the statue by the mills come from?

The stone statue near the Přední and Zadní mills was erected in 1729 — the very year John of Nepomuk was canonized, though its founders had already been inspired by his beatification back in 1721. Local tradition credits a miller with funding the monument out of gratitude, but no historical record confirms this; it remains an oral tradition rather than a documented fact. The parish priest of the time blessed the newly erected statue.

What happened to it over the centuries?

The statue's history has been anything but calm. It was badly damaged during the Seven Years' War, and for a period afterwards it disappears from parish records altogether. It was only rebuilt in 1842, when it received a new sandstone base — one that still carries a Latin chronogram commemorating that restoration. A further thorough repair followed in 1879, marked by a blessing from the local priest, and the statue underwent its most recent conservation in 2006. Notably, it also survived the turbulent years of 1918–1919, when many similar monuments across the newly formed Czechoslovakia were removed as symbols of the Habsburg era.

What sets the statue on Masaryk Square apart?

The second monument, standing in the town centre, is a late-Baroque sandstone sculpture whose sculptor remains unknown. It dates from the second half of the 18th century and is today protected as a cultural monument. The life-size figure of the saint stands on a tall, profiled column flanked by volutes, with an angel seated on each one. Until 2004 the statue held the central position on the square; that year it was relocated to a corner near the rectory, a move that altered the square's layout but helped preserve the monument itself in good condition.

Why visit both statues?

Placing the two monuments side by side tells a striking story about how differently a piece of Baroque religious sculpture can fare over time — one stood in a prestigious spot and was regularly restored, while the other weathered wartime destruction and years of neglect on the edge of town. For visitors to Lázně Bohdaneč, a town best known for its peat-mud spa treatments, a short walk to both statues offers a glimpse of a less obvious side of the town and pairs naturally with a stroll out toward the old mills.

Frequently asked questions

How many statues of John of Nepomuk are there in Lázně Bohdaneč? Two — one on Masaryk Square in the town centre, and another near the old mills on the road toward Rohovládová Bělá.

When was the statue by the mills built? In 1729, the year of John of Nepomuk's canonization, though it also referenced his 1721 beatification.

Has the statue by the mills always looked the same? No — it was heavily damaged during the Seven Years' War, rebuilt in 1842 with a new base, repaired again in 1879, and conserved most recently in 2006.

Has the statue on Masaryk Square always stood in the same spot? No — until 2004 it stood in the middle of the square, after which it was moved to a corner near the rectory.

Who created the statue on the square? The sculptor is unknown; the work is dated to the second half of the 18th century and is executed in a late-Baroque style.