Location: By the bridge near Lázně V (Spa V) in the northern part of the centre of Karlovy Vary
Period of construction: 1728
Architect: Unknown
Official opening: 1728
Accessibility: Freely accessible
How to get there
Route 1: You may reach the statue of Saint John of Nepomuk if you walk from the Hot Spring in the spa centre along the Teplá River and the Thermal Hotel. At the end of Nábřeží Jana Palach (Jan Palach Embankment), you will need to cross Školní lávka (School Foot Bridge) over the Teplá River to get to the statue. This route, which offers a pleasant walk through the city centre, is approximately 1.5 kilometres long and it will take you about half an hour.
Route 2: If you decide for the second route, take Bus No. 2 from Divadelní náměstí (Theatre Square) in the spa centre to the "Tržnice" (Market) city bus terminal. From there, you will walk about 300 metres up Varšavská (Warsaw) Street and continue along Nábřeží osvobození (Liberation Embankment) all the way to the statue.
History of the monument
The Baroque statue of Saint John of Nepomuk (Jan Nepomucký) was created by an unknown sculptor and it was originally installed in the middle of Jánský most (Jánský Bridge) bending over the Teplá River in front of Vřídelní kolonáda (Hot Spring Colonnade) in 1728. The statue was donated to the spa town by Countess Maria Margaret Wallenstein of the Czernin family. The reconstruction of Jánský Bridge in 1844 necessitated the relocation of the statue to a new site in the northern part of the town centre near Františkův most (Franz Bridge) below Jánská skála (Jánský Rock) where the Main Post Office now stands. As a result of the construction of the Main Post Office in 1902, the statue was moved once again to its present-day site in the alley opposite Alžbětiny lázně (Elizabeth Baths) on the left bank of the Teplá River.
Owing to its location, the statue stands rather far from the main tourist routes and it is often neglected by the visitors coming to the spa. You may visit the statue while exploring the nearby Alžbětiny lázně also known as Lázně V (Elizabeth Baths or Spa V) and the adjoining Smetanovy sady (Smetana's Park).
Location
Statue of Saint John of Nepomuk