sv. Jan Nepomucký

The statue of Saint John of Nepomuk stands on the village green in Kroužek, a small settlement that today forms part of the town of Rousínov in the Vyškov District of South Moravia. The stone figure dates from the early 19th century and is one of a handful of historic monuments preserved on the local green, alongside an older bell tower and a war memorial.

Where exactly is the statue located?

Kroužek lies about one kilometre southeast of the centre of Rousínov, in an enclosed valley at an elevation of 260 metres above sea level. The statue stands on the village's central green, which has long served as a gathering point and the setting for local festivities. The coordinates of the site are approximately 49.194, 16.895.

Who does the statue represent?

John of Nepomuk (Jan z Pomuku) was a 14th-century Bohemian priest and vicar-general of the Prague diocese, put to death in 1393 on the orders of King Wenceslaus IV. Canonized in 1729, he became one of the most widely venerated saints in Bohemia, Moravia, and Central Europe, honoured as the patron of bridges, of confessors, and of protection against floods. Statues of him were traditionally erected by bridges, rivers, and on village greens, often as a votive offering or an expression of local devotion.

What is the history of Kroužek?

Kroužek existed already as a farming settlement belonging to the Kojetín estate, but it was abandoned in 1502. It was resettled only in 1690, when Dominik Ondřej of Kounice brought in German colonists from Swabia and Silesia to rebuild it. The village went through hard times afterward: a major fire in 1871 destroyed 18 buildings and 10 barns, and hailstorms in 1891 and 1898 damaged crops in the area. Since 1 August 1976, Kroužek has been an administrative part of the town of Rousínov, though it has kept the character of a separate village with its own green.

What else can be seen on site?

Besides the statue, the green in Kroužek also holds a bell tower dating from 1854, along with a cross and a memorial to fallen residents — a typical grouping of small devotional and commemorative monuments found on village greens across South Moravia. According to 2021 data, the village had 303 inhabitants and 113 houses, making it a small, quiet settlement without significant tourist infrastructure.

Is it worth a visit?

Kroužek is not a headline destination, but it can make an interesting stop for visitors exploring the area around Rousínov and interested in local history and the small-scale devotional architecture of South Moravia. The quiet village green, with its historic statue and bell tower, captures the atmosphere of a typical Moravian village well off the main tourist routes.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the statue of Saint John of Nepomuk in Kroužek? On the village green in Kroužek, a local part of the town of Rousínov in the Vyškov District, about 1 km southeast of the centre of Rousínov.

How old is the statue? It dates from the early 19th century.

Why is Saint John of Nepomuk so widely venerated in Czechia? He was a Prague priest put to death in 1393 and canonized in 1729; he is honoured as the patron of bridges, confessors, and protection against floods, which is why his statues stand in many Czech towns and villages.

Is Kroužek an independent village or part of Rousínov? Since 1976, Kroužek has been an administrative part of the town of Rousínov, though it retains its own village green and the character of a separate settlement.

What else is worth seeing in Kroužek? Besides the statue on the village green, there is a bell tower from 1854, a cross, and a memorial to the village's fallen residents.