The stone monument was erected in 1837.
Monuments·preserved in a modified form
Monument to Božena Němcová in Františkovy Lázně
Monument to Bozena Němcová in Františkovy Lázně · Monument to Bozena Němcová in Františkovy Lázně
A monument with two identities: first a Saxon charity, later a Czech writer.
Františkovy Lázně , Karlovy Vary region50.11700 , 12.3500019th century; reinterpretation 1950cultural monument of the Czech Republic
Story
The stone monument standing by the Františkovy spring was not originally created for Božena Němcová at all. In 1837, the Loket stonemason Gottlieb Tröger created it as a monument to the Saxon Foundation, which had helped finance spa treatment for poor guests from Saxony since 1820. After World War II, the political and national meanings of the public space changed fundamentally. The original plaque was removed and in 1950 it was replaced by a bronze relief of Božena Němcová by Josef Jiříkovský. The new layer commemorated the writer's stays in Františkovy Lázně in the 1840s. Physically, the monument from 1837 remained, but its story and public identity completely changed.
Story
The stone monument standing by the Františkovy spring was not originally created for Božena Němcová at all. In 1837, the Loket stonemason Gottlieb Tröger created it as a monument to the Saxon Foundation, which had helped finance spa treatment for poor guests from Saxony since 1820. After World War II, the political and national meanings of the public space changed fundamentally. The original plaque was removed and in 1950 it was replaced by a bronze relief of Božena Němcová by Josef Jiříkovský. The new layer commemorated the writer's stays in Františkovy Lázně in the 1840s. Physically, the monument from 1837 remained, but its story and public identity completely changed.
Gallery
Photos of the place.
The most interesting facts
What happened here?
Timeline of the place
1837
The creation of the Saxon Foundation monument
Gottlieb Tröger created a granite monument to the charitable Saxon Foundation.
Source: Atlas of Czech Architecture
28. 5. 1950
New relief by Božena Němcová
The original plaque was replaced by a relief by Josef Jiříkovský and the monument took on a new meaning.
Source: Literary Museums
Where is it located?
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Sources and further reading
- 1 City of Františkovy Lázně· Monument to Bozena NěmcováOpen source ↗
- 2 Atlas of Czech Architecture· Monument – Božena Němcová MonumentOpen source ↗
- 3 Literary museums· Monument to Bozena Němcová in Františkovy LázněOpen source ↗
