sv. Alžběta Durynská

The statue of Saint Elizabeth of Thuringia is a life-size sandstone sculpture standing in the historic castle park of Chotěboř, in the Vysočina region of the Havlíčkův Brod district, Czech Republic. The figure crowns the end of a long chestnut-and-linden avenue and is one of the few surviving elements of the park's original sculptural decoration, listed on the Czech register of movable cultural monuments.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The statue stands at the end of an avenue lined with chestnut and linden trees, running along the northern edge of Chotěboř's castle park. The avenue, roughly 350 metres long, begins right at the castle and once led toward the estate's former hunting grounds. The park itself was laid out in the English landscape style between 1870 and 1875, covers around 15 hectares, and today lies within a protected landscape area in the Doubrava river basin.

What does the statue look like?

Saint Elizabeth is shown in a contrapposto pose, right knee thrust forward. She wears a lower garment cinched at the waist and a cloak fastened at the chest, held in place with both slightly bent arms. Her head is covered by a veil topped with a princely crown ending in a gilded metal cross, with a halo around her head. The figure stands on a four-sided pedestal with a square base, its sides divided by carved frames with chamfered corners and topped by a moulded cornice. The pedestal alone measures 125 x 75 x 65 cm, while the whole sculpture with its base reaches 175 cm in height, 70 cm wide and 40 cm deep.

When was it made, and who created it?

The dating of the statue is not entirely settled. Some sources place its creation in the 19th century, while others point to the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and attribute the work to the sculptor Jan Kalous of Chrudim. Whichever date is correct, the figure belongs to the older layer of the castle park's sculptural furnishings and has long served as a landmark marking the end of the avenue.

Who was Saint Elizabeth of Thuringia?

Elizabeth of Thuringia, also known as Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231), was the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary. At fourteen she married Ludwig IV, Landgrave of Thuringia, and was widowed at twenty when he died on crusade in 1227. She then devoted herself to charity, founding a hospital for the poor and sick in Marburg, where she personally cared for those in need. She died at only twenty-four, and just four years later, in 1235, Pope Gregory IX canonized her. She is venerated as patron saint of charitable works, hospitals, bakers, and the poor and sick; her image — often crowned, reflecting her rank as landgravine — appears in many churches and parks across Central Europe.

What else is there to see, and when to visit?

Chotěboř's castle park also holds a Baroque sandstone statue of Saint John of Nepomuk from 1720, at the entrance on the castle side — together the two form a small but valuable ensemble of religious art within the park's greenery. The park is open to walkers, so it's worth strolling the whole avenue rather than heading straight for the figure. As it's a protected historic landscape, take care around the old trees and the monument itself. Spring and summer are best, when the chestnut-and-linden avenue looks its most picturesque.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the statue stand? At the end of a chestnut-and-linden avenue along the northern edge of Chotěboř's castle park, in Czechia's Vysočina region.

What is it made of, and how large is it? Sandstone; the figure is life-size, and the whole sculpture with its pedestal stands 175 cm tall.

When was it made? Sources disagree — dates range from the 19th century to the turn of the 19th/20th century, with some crediting sculptor Jan Kalous of Chrudim.

Who was Saint Elizabeth of Thuringia? A Hungarian princess and Landgravine of Thuringia (1207–1231), known for her charity, canonized just four years after her death.

Are there other historic sculptures in the park? Yes — a Baroque statue of Saint John of Nepomuk from 1720 stands at the park's entrance.