svatý Petr

The statue of St. Peter (Czech: socha svatého Petra) is a Baroque stone sculpture standing on the corner of U Lužického semináře and Míšenská streets in Prague's Malá Strana (Lesser Town), just a short walk from the Vltava riverbank and Charles Bridge. It's the kind of small, easy-to-miss carving that Malá Strana has in abundance — worth noticing if you're walking from the bridge toward Kampa Island.

Where exactly is it?

The statue stands at the former Lusatian Seminary (Lužický seminář) building, right at the junction of U Lužického semináře and Míšenská, in the dense, Baroque heart of Malá Strana. The narrow streets here slope down toward the river, so if you're heading from Charles Bridge toward Kampa, you'll pass this corner almost without trying.

Who made it, and when?

The statue's history is tied to the construction of the Lusatian Seminary, a building that trained clergy for the Lusatian (Sorbian) region: work began in 1726, and the seminary itself opened in 1728. The sculpture is attributed to the Baroque sculptor Matěj Václav Jäckel, active in Prague during this period. The stone figure shows St. Peter in his standard iconography — holding two keys in his right hand, and a book and staff in his left. The keys are his best-known attribute, symbolizing the keys to the gates of heaven that, according to biblical tradition, Christ entrusted to him.

Is this the original, centuries-old carving?

Not quite. In 1987 the original statue's head was damaged and broke off. What stands on the corner today is a copy, made to replace the damaged original. That's a common fate for outdoor stone sculpture in a city like Prague — centuries of frost, damp, and weathering eventually force either restoration or full replacement.

Why stop here?

Malá Strana is full of details like this one — saints on the corners of buildings, reliefs above doorways, small shrines built into house façades. The statue of St. Peter is a good example of how Baroque Prague treated public space: religious imagery wasn't confined to churches, it was woven into everyday street life. For anyone walking toward Kampa or coming back from the riverside, it's a natural spot to slow down for a moment.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the statue of St. Peter located? On the corner of U Lužického semináře and Míšenská streets in Malá Strana, Prague, next to the former Lusatian Seminary building, close to Charles Bridge and Kampa Island.

Who sculpted it? It's attributed to the Baroque sculptor Matěj Václav Jäckel, working during the construction of the Lusatian Seminary between 1726 and 1728.

What does the statue depict? St. Peter holding two keys in his right hand and a book with a staff in his left — the keys represent the keys to heaven traditionally associated with him.

Is it the original 18th-century sculpture? No — the original head broke off in 1987, so the figure seen today is a copy that replaced the damaged original.