sv. Máří Magdaléna

The Statue of St. Mary Magdalene stands along the Na Dlážkách path in Telč's Old Town (Staré Město), as the fourth figure in a sequence of Baroque statues leading toward the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. It was carved in the mid-18th century by the sculptor Kašpar Ober, who created the entire set of seven statues lining this lane.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The figure stands beside a tall tree east of house no. 58 on Křížova street, along the Na Dlážkách path that runs by the shore of the Staroměstský pond. Its approximate coordinates are 49.1796°N, 15.4558°E. This places it on the same walking route where, closer to the dam, the statue of St. John of Nepomuk stands — the two figures are separated by roughly a hundred metres of the same lane.

What does the statue look like?

The slightly larger-than-life figure rests on a plain rectangular pedestal with a slightly tapering shaft and a profiled base. The pedestal is topped by a projecting, profiled cornice, and its walls are divided by carved panels with chamfered corners. The front face of the pedestal bears the carved inscription "S. MARIA MAGDALENA". The figure itself, facing east, depicts a barefoot woman with long, loose, wavy hair, dressed in a long flowing robe, shown in the pose of a penitent adoring a cross.

Why is she shown in this particular pose?

In the Gospels, Mary Magdalene appears as a disciple of Christ and the first witness to the Resurrection, yet Western Christian tradition — especially Baroque devotional culture — settled on a different image of her: a reformed sinner who spent the rest of her life in penance and contemplation. The iconography of a penitent gazing at a cross or a skull, a symbol of mortality, was extremely popular in 17th- and 18th-century Catholic art, blending a message of sin and redemption with the dramatic, emotional gestures typical of the Baroque style. Such an image suited processional lanes particularly well, where each successive statue of a saint was meant to lead the walker toward reflection before reaching the final destination — the church.

Where does she fit among the Na Dlážkách statues?

The full route comprises seven Baroque figures: a Guardian Angel, the Archangel Michael, St. John of Nepomuk, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Wendelin, and the Archangel Raphael, ending with an Annunciation group near the cemetery gate. Mary Magdalene occupies the fourth position in this sequence — her penitent, contemplative character stands in clear contrast to the earlier angelic figures and prepares the walker for the more personal, reflective final stretch of the route leading to the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Mary Magdalene according to the Gospels? A woman healed by Christ who became his disciple, followed him to the crucifixion, and — according to the Gospel accounts — was the first person to see the risen Jesus.

Why were penitent statues of her placed along religious paths? In Western tradition she became a symbol of conversion and penance; her image with a cross or a skull reminded travellers of mortality and the need for spiritual renewal, which fit naturally into the character of a processional lane.

Who carved the statue? Kašpar Ober, who created the entire set of seven Baroque statues along the Na Dlážkách path between 1740 and 1750.

How do you get to the statue? On foot along the Na Dlážkách path by the Staroměstský pond, walking from the dam toward the Old Town and the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary.

Is it worth seeing the whole route, or just this one statue? Walking the full lane, pausing at all seven statues, usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes and gives a far better sense of the whole ensemble's design than viewing a single figure on its own.