Socha svatého Jana Nepomuckého (Dolní Přím) Statue

Welcome to our audio guide. You are standing right in front of a beautiful historical monument, which is the Baroque sandstone statue of St. John Nepomuk in the village Dolní Přím. You are on the road leading to Hradec Králové, where this remarkable sculpture has been building the character of the surrounding countryside for centuries. Let us together imagine her story and look at the details you now have right in front of your eyes.

When you look around you carefully, you will see that the entire piece is set in a four-sided fence, which was originally made up of balustrad and has a convex cut-out corner. Right in this demarcated space, there is a life-sized saint. It is located on a high four-sided pedestal, whose sides have curved decorative shapes and on the front side carries embossed cartouche with the symbol of the so-called IHS, which stands for the name of the savior. The figure of the saint is portrayed in a traditional design, which for this time and this favorite saint was so typical.

Let us now look deeper into history and imagine the time of the creation of this work. The year is a thousand seven hundred forty-seven, when this Baroque sandstone statue first saw the light of the world. At that time, a whole number of monuments were created in the whole Czech country celebrating this saint. People saw him as a protector of floods, a danger to water, but also as a patron of confessional secrets, and as a protector of bridges or fields. Although we know the exact number of years of the creation of this art splendor, the name of his creator has not been preserved until today. Thus, the author of the valuable Baroque sculpture remains completely unknown. However, we know that working with sandstone required masterful craftsmanship, which the unknown sculptor undoubtedly endured. The long decades and centuries passed, until the year came a thousand nine hundred ninety-four. This year the statue was officially declared a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, confirming its huge historical and artistic value for future generations.

Now, if you continue to observe, notice how harmonically the whole works. The statue of St. John Nepomuk has been looking down on travelers and pilgrims for generations. Saint Jan Nepomucký himself is a figure whose life is connected to Prague, where he was a vicar general of the Archbishop of Prague. His tragic fate, when he refused to release the confessional secret to King Wenceslas IV. and was cast from the Charles Bridge to Vltava by order of the sovereign, became a legend. He became a symbol of unbreakable loyalty to truth and faith. This is why we often meet his statues not only in large cities, but also in the countryside, near roads and bridges where they were meant to protect the local population.

Now pay attention to one more interesting thing that is in the immediate vicinity of this place. Right next to the statue and busy road is also a historic bell tower. Together with the statue of St. John Nepomuk, it creates a picturesque and traditional element of our landscape, which remembers the old times and the former life of our ancestors. In the past, the bell in its voice told people of important events, noon, impending weather, or accompanied the locals on their last journey. The connection of the statue of the saint and the bells creates a unique historical corner, which is worth contemplating.

We hope you enjoyed our joint stop at this Baroque monument. We invite you to explore further the surroundings of the village Dolní Přím, where you can discover further traces of the past. Thank you for putting on the headphones and listening to our audio guide. We wish you a beautiful rest of the day and a happy journey on your other marbles. Goodbye.