Pomník Šimona Nitzky Monument

Welcome. As you stand here in the quiet surroundings of Ostrolovský Újezd, take a moment to settle into the atmosphere of this place. Before you stands a silent, weathered witness to a tragedy that occurred centuries ago. You are looking at the Pomník Šimona Nitzky, a granite reconciliation cross that has occupied this very spot for hundreds of years. Even in its stillness, the monument carries a heavy sense of history, acting as a bridge between the peaceful landscape you see today and the violent events that once unfolded on this very ground.

As you approach the monument, please take a closer look at its form. Notice the material from which it is crafted; it is a sturdy, enduring granite, a stone chosen to withstand the passage of time and the elements. The structure is characterized by a tall, tapering pillar that draws the eye upward. If you look toward the head of the cross, you will see a specific, carved detail: a relief of a Greek cross. This symbol, combined with the monument's distinct oval-shaped features, gives the structure a solemn and dignified presence. It is not merely a decorative object, but a purposeful piece of stone masonry designed to mark a moment of profound loss.

To understand why this cross was placed here, we must travel back in time to the year 1577. Imagine this landscape not as it is now, but as it was in the late sixteenth century—a time of different laws, different dangers, and a much more unpredictable sense of security. In that year, a man named Šimon Nitzky was traveling through this area. He was a swordsman, a man likely accustomed to handling weapons and navigating the risks of travel, yet he could not escape the fate that awaited him here. Šimon Nitzky was robbed and murdered at this exact location. The violence of the attack was so significant that it left a permanent scar on the memory of the community, necessitating a monument that would serve as a reconciliation cross.

A reconciliation cross, or smírčí kříž, is a powerful concept. It was often erected to mark the site of a crime, serving as a way to settle spiritual or social debts and to ensure that the memory of the victim was never truly lost to the earth. For Šimon Nitzky, this granite pillar became his lasting legacy, a way to transform a site of sudden, brutal violence into a place of remembrance and, eventually, a place of peace.

The story of the crime, however, did not end with the attack in 1577. The mystery of who was responsible lingered for several years, haunting the local area. It was not until 1581, four years after the murder, that the truth finally began to emerge through a formal investigation. It was during this time that a man named Ondřej Plemátl came forward and confessed to the murder. His confession brought a sense of closure to the investigation, but the justice of the sixteenth century was swift and unforgiving.

The fates of those involved were as grim as the crime itself. Following his confession, Ondřej Plemátl did not face a long trial or a standard sentence; instead, he died while in prison. His accomplice, a woman named Johanka, met an even more harrowing end. As part of the judicial process of that era, she was executed by drowning. These names—Šimon Nitzky, Ondřej Plemátl, and Johanka—are now inextricably linked to this piece of granite, forever tied to this specific coordinate in Ostrolovský Újezd.

As you stand here, contemplate the weight of these names and the passage of time. It is fascinating to think that while the people involved—the victim, the murderer, and the accomplice—have long since passed into history, the monument they left behind remains. The granite has weathered the rain, the wind, and the changing seasons, yet the Greek cross carved into its head remains visible, a testament to a human story that refused to be forgotten.

There is a certain mystery in the endurance of such monuments. Why does a community choose to mark a place of death with such a permanent structure? Perhaps it is because, by marking the spot, they reclaim the land from the chaos of the crime. By erecting the Pomník Šimona Nitzky, the people of that era turned a site of terror into a site of reflection.

As you prepare to continue your journey, take one last look at the tapering pillar and the texture of the stone. Let the silence of the monument remind you of the layers of history that lie beneath the surface of every landscape. Thank you for visiting this site and for taking the time to listen to the story of Šimon Nitzky. We invite you to keep exploring the surroundings and to discover the many other stories waiting to be uncovered in this beautiful region. Safe travels on the rest of your journey.