Pomník císaře Josefa II. Monument

Welcome to Hostinném. Right now, when you listen to this voice, you're standing in a small, quiet park that serves as a green oasis right in front of a local gymnasium building. Feel the atmosphere of this place where history meets the daily life of the city. In front of your eyes is an important monument, which is not just an ordinary sculpture work, but is a living witness of ancient times and the honor of a monarch whose name was of great importance to this region. Look at him carefully and let yourself be carried away by the story that is told here through this marble.

Now let's think about why this monument was even materialized and why it's standing right here. This monument was revealed in a thousand nine hundred and six. But it wasn't a random act. The people at that time wanted to pay a profound tribute to the Emperor Joseph to the other. The reason was not just his power, but his reforms, above all. We lived in what historians call enlightened absolutism. This is important to understand because this term describes the way of government, when the sovereign held all political power in his hands, but at the same time tried to lead the state with reason, justice and modern ideas. Joseph the second was a ruler who tried to bring about progress, and this monument is an expression of gratitude for his efforts to improve life under his rule. At the same time, however, the monument serves as a reminder that this monarch was a person for Hostinné, who really was there and left a mark in the memory of the local people.

Now pay attention to the work of art itself, which is right in front of you. Notice how light breaks on its surface. The whole statue is made of beautiful Karar marble. This material is known for its purity, its white color and its ability to capture even the most delicate details of the sculptor's hole. The statue is slightly larger than life size, which means it's slightly larger than a real person. This detail gives her unmistakable nobility, dignity and a certain authority that matches the position of the emperor. The author of this work is Viennese sculptor Georg Leisek. His work is part of the period of Art Nouveau, which is a style that you will recognize by the fluidity of shapes and certain organic elegance that he radiates from the work. If you look at the pedestal and side steps, you will see how they form a solid and stable basis for this marble work. The whole composition acts harmoniously and balances the strength of marble with the fineness of sculpture processing.

But in order to fully understand why this monument is so important, we need to go back even further in time and look at the visits of the emperor himself, which this monument celebrates. Josef the second was not just a remote figure from the textbooks for Hostinné. He was a real guest of these streets. The first important visit took place in the year of a thousand seven hundred sixty-six. It was a military inspection route, where the emperor moved within his duties and controlled the troop's readiness. Later, in the year one thousand seven hundred seventy-one, the city met the sovereign in a much more difficult and sad time when there was a great famine in the regions. The visit at such a time was of profound importance to the locals. Finally, in the year one thousand seven hundred seventy-eight, there were shadows of political change associated with the war on Bavarian heritage. These three different moments, from military glory to human suffering to political tension, link the figure of the emperor to the history of this city and make it a character that actually left its presence.

But the history of this particular monument is also a story about its loss, expulsion and subsequent triumphant return. His journey has not always been easy. After its unveiling in the year one thousand nine hundred and six, the monument passed through stormy times. In the year one thousand nine hundred twenty-one, the sculpture was taken from this place to the park near the castle in the village of Foøt. For many decades he thus remained away from his original home and from the people for whom he was intended. Only in the year one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine he managed to return to his original place in front of the Gymnasium building in Hostinném. This return was a great moment for the city. Since 2000, this monument has been officially protected as a significant cultural heritage. So that she can shine so beautifully again and look as you see her right now, in the year two thousand and seventeen she went through total restoration and restoration. Every detail was carefully treated so that marble would regain its original shine and dignity.

Now that you've learned this whole story, from the time of enlightened reform to modern restoration, I suggest you stop for a moment in silence. Feel the connection between this marble piece and the surrounding environment. This monument stands here as a silent guardian of history, reminding people how the city and the world were. We hope that this view of Hostinné's past has struck you, and that you are interested in this short story. Continue to walk around the area now, see the gymnasium building and discover the other beauty of this place. Thank you for spending this moment with us. Goodbye.