sv. Jan Nepomucký

The Statue of St. John of Nepomuk in Lanžhot – what to know

The statue of St. John of Nepomuk stands beside the old road leading from Lanžhot to Břeclav, close to the point where the road crosses the Malá Caja stream. It is one of the region's few surviving religious monuments from the first half of the 18th century, still standing at its original spot.

When was the statue made?

The stone figure dates from 1744. This date is confirmed not only by the sculpture's style but also by a surviving village document from the same year concerning the upkeep and care of the monument. The document was signed by the then village mayor, Josef Pajha, together with the entire village council — evidence that the statue was already regarded as an important part of local public space, worthy of formal, organized care, right from the moment it was erected.

What does the statue look like, and what surrounds it?

The figure rests on a single stone step, from which rises a prismatic pedestal made of two stacked sections, each finished with profiled cornices. The whole composition stands on a grassy verge beside the main road, enclosed by a more modern wrought-iron decorative fence — an addition that protects the monument from damage without obstructing the view of the sculpture itself.

Why St. John of Nepomuk specifically?

St. John of Nepomuk is one of the most widely venerated saints in Czech folk tradition, honored among other things as the patron of bridges, river crossings, and protection against floods and slander. Placing his image near roads and watercourses — as with the Lanžhot statue standing close to a stream — was a common practice in many villages of southern Moravia during the 18th century. It was meant to symbolically ensure the safety of travelers and watch over the surrounding water and fields.

What does the statue mean for Lanžhot today?

While the statue is not a major national tourist draw, it remains an important marker of local identity and history for Lanžhot itself — a testament to the religious life and communal organization of the village nearly three centuries ago. The fact that the municipality took responsibility for its upkeep from the very beginning, as documented in the 1744 record, points to an unbroken line of care for the monument that continues today, with the modern iron fence likely replacing earlier forms of protection.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly does the statue stand? Beside the old road from Lanžhot to Břeclav, near where it crosses the Malá Caja stream.

What year does the figure date from? 1744 — a date confirmed both by the sculpture's style and by a surviving village document from that same year.

Who was responsible for maintaining the monument in the past? According to the 1744 document, upkeep of the statue was the responsibility of the village mayor at the time, Josef Pajha, together with the village council.

What is the statue made of? It is a stone figure, set on a single step atop a two-part prismatic pedestal finished with profiled cornices.

Is the statue fenced in? Yes, it is surrounded by a modern decorative wrought-iron fence, standing on the grassy verge beside the road.