Socha sv. Jana Nepomuckého Statue

Welcome to the beautiful town of Podebrady. Right now you're standing in a place where history meets the calm of flowing water. Look around you. You are on the left bank of the Elbe River, near the historic Prague bridge. Feel this atmosphere that is woven through the noise of water and memories of ancient times. The statue of St. John Nepomuk stands before your eyes. It is a work that stands here as a silent witness to the many generations that passed by it.

Now let's go back deep into the past together to understand why this place is so special. More than two hundred and four years ago, precisely in the year one thousand seven hundred sixty-one, there were events here that produced this work of art. You might expect a king or a rich nobleman to be the client of such a work, but history often surprises us. This monument was ordered by a local man named Jan Sichrovský. He was known as a tannery in Podebrady at the time. Imagine his life, his work and his place in society. As a tannulle, he was part of a community, a person who was close to people. And it was this man, a simple craftsman, who chose something great and eternal. His motivation was a deep faith and an effort to celebrate an important moment - the twenty-fifth anniversary of the time when St. John Nepomuk was declared a saint.

Now pay attention to the very piece that you have right in front of you. Notice his form. It's a Baroque statue. The Baroque is a style that carries incredible strength, emotion and movement. It's not just about peace, it's about drama to reach out to and move his soul. This statue is carved from sandstone. Sandstone is a material that is very typical of our countries, but also very sensitive. It is a stone that can capture light and shadow perfectly, which gives the character a special life in the Baroque spirit. When you look at her, you can feel the dynamic that the creator put in her lines. The author of this work is attributed to Josef Bergmann. Although some details may be blurred over time, his handwriting in this work remains evident.

Now, if you look at the holy form itself, try to perceive his story. The statue isn't just an art object, it's a symbol. It symbolizes the most dramatic moment of his life - the overthrow of St. John Nepomuk from the bridge directly into the waves of the Elbe River. In that attitude, a strong connection between the stone piece and the living water that flows right next to you. It feels the weight of fate and the relentless force of nature.

But the history of this monument is not only about its beautiful creation, but also about the fight against time and the infertile influences of the outside world. Every stone suffers from moisture and every groove in the sandstone is a trace of years spent near the river. In a thousand and nine hundred and sixty-five, the situation became so serious that the original statue was in very bad shape. In order to preserve the resemblance of this place, a copy was placed at the place. This is an important moment in the history of our city - a decision on how to preserve the face of Podebrad, even if it meant that the original had to retreat.

But history has a very beautiful and joyous twist for us. After a long time, namely in the year two thousand eleven, something incredible was done. The original, historical statue was carefully restored. Thanks to this strong work he managed to save the true work of art created by Bergmann and ordered by Sichrovský. And do you know where he is now? In order to protect it from the constant influence of the weather and the constant movement of people, the original statue was transferred to New Town Hall. So what you see here is a connection to history that reminds us of how important it is to take care of our heritage.

While you're looking at this place, remember the simple furrier who decided centuries ago to decorate this place. His actions were an act of respect that survived for centuries. The statue of St. John Nepomuk is more than just a piece of sandstone. He's a witness to the faith, a witness to the craft and a witness to the time that keeps flowing, just like the water in the Elbe River.

I hope this brief view of the past of this place has reached out to you and let you think. They have many more secrets and beautiful corners waiting for you. Continue to walk now, perceive the atmosphere of our city and discover further traces of history that have been left behind. I wish you a beautiful and inspiring rest of the day to explore our beautiful city. Goodbye.