sv. František z Assisi

The Statue of Saint Francis of Assisi depicts a scene from a well-known medieval legend – the taming of the wolf of Gubbio – and stands in a quiet green corner of Prague's Střešovičky district, right on the edge of Břevnov, next to a convent of teaching sisters.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The sculpture stands in a small park in front of the convent of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, less than a hundred metres from the busy Patočkova street. It's a peaceful spot reachable on foot from the Na Petynce stop, along a path that passes the Kuklík pond – a pleasant short detour for anyone also visiting the nearby Benedictine abbey in Břevnov.

Who made the statue, and when?

The sculptor is Vladimír Matoušek, born in 1956 and based in Brno. Earlier in his career he worked on the conservation and restoration of Gothic and Baroque sculptures, and since 1980 he has produced his own work, mostly on religious themes. The Prague statue of Saint Francis and the wolf was created in 2016 and blessed on 4 October of that year – the liturgical feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi.

What is the statue made of?

The figure is carved from light-coloured sandstone and set on a square concrete base. The choice of pale, natural stone echoes a long tradition of devotional sculpture found outside churches and monasteries across the Czech Republic.

What legend does the statue illustrate?

The work portrays one of the best-known episodes from the life of Saint Francis, dating back to the early 13th century. According to tradition, the Umbrian town of Gubbio was long terrorised by a fierce wolf that preyed on livestock and frightened residents. Francis is said to have gone out to meet the animal, made the sign of the cross before it, and – through prayer and gentleness – persuaded it to abandon its aggression, after which it lived peacefully alongside the townspeople. The story of the wolf of Gubbio is one of the most recurring images in Franciscan iconography, alongside the stigmata and the sermon to the birds, and it continues to appear in religious art today, including in this contemporary Prague piece.

Why was the statue placed here specifically?

The location next to the convent of the School Sisters is not accidental – religious statues are traditionally placed close to churches and monastic buildings, where they serve both a devotional and decorative purpose that fits the character of their surroundings. The proximity of the historic Benedictine abbey in Břevnov, one of the oldest men's monasteries in the Czech Republic, reinforces the religious atmosphere of this part of the city.

What should visitors know before going?

This is a small, low-key site, well away from the crowds that usually head straight for the abbey in Břevnov with its Baroque church and gardens. The walk from the Na Petynce public transport stop takes only a few minutes, passing greenery around the Kuklík pond, which makes the short detour worthwhile for anyone interested in religious art and monastic architecture.

Frequently asked questions

What does the statue in Střešovičky depict? A scene from the early-13th-century legend in which Saint Francis of Assisi tames the wolf of Gubbio.

Who created the statue? Sculptor Vladimír Matoušek (b. 1956), known for religious themes and previously trained in restoring Gothic and Baroque sculpture.

When was it made and blessed? It was created in 2016 and blessed on 4 October that year, on the feast day of Saint Francis.

What material is the statue made of? Light-coloured sandstone, set on a square concrete base.

Where exactly can you find it? In a small park in front of the convent of the School Sisters in Střešovičky, near Patočkova street, close to the Benedictine abbey in Břevnov.

What's the easiest way to get there? On foot from the Na Petynce stop, along the path past the Kuklík pond.