Statue of the Virgin Mary in Drahovice

Location: On a hill above the centre of Karlovy Vary at the edge of the municipal district of Drahovice
Period of construction: 1704
Architect: Unknown
Official opening: 1704
Accessibility: Freely accessible

How to get there

Route 1:        The first route offers a pleasant short walk and it leads from the Hot Spring in the city centre up Vřídelní (Hot Spring) Street and along the right bank of the Teplá River. After about 400 metres, you will turn to Ondřejská Street, walk up the street, cross the main road and walk up to the highest point where you will find the statue. This route is approximately 1 kilometre long and takes about 20 minutes.

Route 2:        If you decide for the second route, travel by Bus No. 10 or Bus No. 15 to the "Havlíčkova" stop in Drahovice. From there, walk up Máchova Street to the statue at the top of the hill.

History of the monument

The Baroque sandstone statue of the Virgin Mary was created by an unknown sculptor and it was erectedon a hill near the former medieval gallows at the border of the originally independent village of Drahovice and the town of Karlovy Vary in 1704. The statue portrays Mary of the Immaculate Conception stepping on a snake wrapped around a sphere. The snake symbolises the Devil who is defeated by the Virgin Mary. A copy of the conciliation cross may be found on the hill behind the statue of the Virgin Mary. The cross was erected in memory of the Counter-Reformation and the exodus of Protestants from Karlsbad to Johanngeorgenstadt in 1624.