Sv. Jan Nepomucký

The Statue of St. John of Nepomuk is a Baroque sculpture from the 1740s set into a wall niche on Husova street in central Brno, right below the Denisovy sady park. It's an easy-to-miss piece of street-corner religious art, yet its story runs back further than the spot where it currently stands.

Who was St. John of Nepomuk?

John of Nepomuk was a Czech priest from the late 14th century, a confessor at the royal court, who died a martyr's death in 1393 — on the order of King Wenceslas IV, he was thrown into the Vltava River in Prague. Over time he became the patron saint of bridges and a protector against floods and slander. His canonization in 1729 triggered a surge in the popularity of his cult across Bohemia and Moravia, and in the following decades of the 18th century towns throughout the region put up statues in his honor. Brno's statue, dating from the 1740s, belongs to exactly this wave.

What does the Brno statue look like?

The sculpture shows the saint in his customary pose: his raised right hand holds a small cross, while his left hand supports an open Bible. It was created by the sculptor Josef Leonard Weber. The figure stands on a modest plinth, fitted into a niche in the wall — a simple form of display typical of roadside and urban saint figures from that era.

Where did the statue originally stand?

Its present spot isn't the original one. The statue used to stand by a bridge on Kopečná street that once crossed the Svratecký náhon, a former mill race carrying water diverted from the Svratka River. That bridge no longer exists, and once it disappeared, the figure was relocated to its current position on Husova street, below Denisovy sady.

How has the monument been cared for?

The statue underwent restoration in 1997–1998, carried out by restorer Josef Krososka. To protect the sculpture from further deterioration, the wall niche was fitted with a plexiglass cover. The statue is listed on the register of immovable cultural monuments under number ÚSKP 20041/7-234, a formal recognition of its historical value and conservation status.

Where exactly can you find it?

The statue sits in a wall along Husova street, one of the main roads leading from central Brno toward Staré Brno (Old Brno), right at the foot of the hill occupied by Denisovy sady park. It's a walkable spot close to the historic center — just a few minutes on foot from Zelný trh (Cabbage Market) and the other landmarks of the old town, so a visit fits easily into a walk around central Brno.

Frequently asked questions

What is the statue on Husova street? It's a Baroque statue of St. John of Nepomuk from the 1740s, set into a wall niche below Denisovy sady park in central Brno.

Who created this statue? It was made by the sculptor Josef Leonard Weber.

Has the statue always stood in this location? No. It originally stood by a now-vanished bridge on Kopečná street that crossed the former Svratecký náhon mill race.

Is the statue a protected heritage site? Yes — it is listed on the register of immovable cultural monuments under number ÚSKP 20041/7-234, and the niche housing it was fitted with a plexiglass cover after its 1997–1998 restoration.