Pomník Maxmiliány Alsterlové z Astfeldu Memorial

The Pomník Maxmiliány Alsterlové z Astfeldu, a Baroque sandstone obelisk, stands on the road northwest of Horní Jirčany towards Jesenice. Erected in 1707, it commemorates a fatal carriage accident from 1706 and is likely the oldest monument in the Czech Republic dedicated to a traffic accident victim. It is officially protected as a cultural monument.

The monument was commissioned by Maxmiliána Alsterlová z Astfeldu's husband, son, and son-in-law in 1707. The tragedy occurred on December 22, 1706, when the countess died after her carriage overturned between Novými Jirčany and Jesenice. The donors included her husband, František Mikuláš Alsterle z Astfeldu; her son, Maxmilián František; and her son-in-law, Jan Josef Löw z Erlsfeldu.

This Baroque monument takes the form of a triangular sandstone pyramid approximately seven meters high, topped with a stone ball and a metal cross. It is constructed from coarse-grained arkose sandstone quarried in the Kladensko region. The obelisk features a triangular base with segmentally convex sides, decorated with volutes at the corners and a cornice with a semicircular curve in the center.

The plinth features carved skulls and crossbones, symbolizing the Baroque theme of memento mori. Originally fully polychromed, the inscriptions were carved without paint to create contrast. Three coats of arms were originally attached to the base, representing the husband, son, and son-in-law, though these have since been lost.

The sides of the base contain specific inscriptions. One side mentions Maximilianus Alsterl ab Astfeldt and calls for prayers for the deceased. The second side records the identity of Maxmiliána Alsterlová z Astfeldu and the date of her death. The third side features a relief depicting the accident, showing an overturned carriage, a frightened horse with a driver, and a figure lying under the vehicle.

Historical accounts and legends offer different versions of the event. One story suggests the countess was traveling from Vienna to Prague and, after being delayed by troops near Benešov, urged her driver to speed up. Another version claims she was traveling in the opposite direction, from Prague to South Bohemia, to spend Christmas at her husband's family estate.

The monument's surface shows significant weathering due to the nature of the sandstone. In 2015, the municipality of Jesenice commissioned a restoration by Václav Snížek, which was completed and handed over on October 15, 2015.

This site serves as a rare early example of a traffic memorial and a testament to Baroque funerary art. It is a significant point of interest for those exploring the history of the region between Horní Jirčany and Jesenice.