sv. Jan Nepomucký

Socha svatého Jana Nepomuckého is a Baroque sandstone statue standing in a small, tree-shaded corner beside the Church of St. John the Baptist in Pardubice, on the grounds of a former parish cemetery on Bratranců Veverkových street. Pardubice has more than one likeness of this saint, but this particular figure stands out for its age and its rather turbulent history — it was carved before John of Nepomuk was even formally canonized, and it survived war damage and a cross-town relocation to reach its current spot.

When was the statue made?

The figure dates to the early 18th century, sometime before 1729 — the year Pope Benedict XIII formally canonized John of Nepomuk. That means residents of Pardubice were already venerating him as a local patron before the Church made it official, which was fairly common practice at the time: devotion to the martyred priest from Prague had spread across Bohemia well ahead of the Vatican paperwork. The sculptor's name was never recorded and remains unknown.

Where did the statue originally stand?

Before arriving at its present location, the statue spent decades standing in front of house number 68 on what is now Míru street, in a different part of town. It was only in 1888 that the brotherhood associated with the Church of St. John the Baptist had it moved to the grounds of the former parish cemetery, where it still stands today. Relocating saints' statues within a town was not unusual in that era — municipalities frequently rearranged public space, moving shrines and figures to spots more closely tied to their religious context.

What does the statue depict?

John of Nepomuk is shown as a canon, standing in a classic contrapposto pose and holding a crucifix diagonally in front of him. Around his head is a ring of five stars — an attribute referencing the legend that stars appeared over the waters of the Vltava at the spot where he was drowned on the orders of King Wenceslaus IV. This is one of the most recognizable elements of the saint's iconography and appears in virtually every depiction of him across the Czech Republic.

What damage has the statue survived?

The statue did not come through unscathed. In 1744, during the Second Silesian War and the Prussian occupation of the region, it was damaged. Repairs were not carried out until 1747, financed by hejtman František Václav Brandlstein — funding that allowed the statue to remain standing through its 19th-century move and on into the present day, still in good condition.

Why is it worth a visit?

The spot brings together two layers of Pardubice's history: three centuries of Baroque folk devotion, and the quiet, green setting of a former parish cemetery tucked away from the busier streets of the town center. For anyone visiting the Church of St. John the Baptist, it's a natural, low-key stop that illustrates how local saint cults and small pieces of sacred architecture managed to outlast wars, relocations, and the changing shape of the city around them.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the original statue, or a copy? Available sources give no indication that this statue is a copy — it is the original, historical carving from the early 18th century. (Pardubice also has a separate, more recent copy at St. Bartholomew's Cathedral, made by sculptor Miloslav Baše.)

Who made the statue? The sculptor is unknown; no name has survived in the sources.

What material is the statue made of? It is carved from sandstone, a material typical of Baroque outdoor sculpture in the region.

Is the site publicly accessible? Yes, the statue stands in a public space on the grounds of the former cemetery next to the church and can be viewed at any time without restriction.

Why does the saint hold a cross and have stars over his head? These are standard iconographic attributes of John of Nepomuk: the crucifix reflects his role as a confessor, while the five stars refer to the legend of lights seen over the Vltava River at the spot of his martyrdom.