Touching History: The Story Behind St. John of Nepomuk’s Statue
Statue of St John of Nepomuk on the Charles Bridge
The statue of St. John of Nepomuk located on Charles Bridge is impossible to miss—it is the only green statue on the bridge due to oxidized copper, and nearly every second person who passes by stops to touch its polished golden reliefs. But why do so many people touch this statue, and what is its connection to the priest who was thrown off Prague’s famous bridge?
Charles Bridge
The statue of St. John of Nepomuk on Charles Bridge is one of Prague’s most visited landmarks. Installed in 1688–1689, this bronze figure commemorates the 14th-century priest who became a symbol of the holy confession after being drowned in the Vltava River. Located at the midpoint of Charles Bridge, the sculpture features St. John in Roman vestments, holding a crucifix beneath a halo of five stars. Touching the plaque at its base is said to bring good luck and guarantee a return to Prague. Positioned among thirty Baroque statues lining the bridge, it offers both historical significance and a popular photo opportunity for visitors exploring Old Town and the riverfront.
A place where St John of Nepomuk was thrown to Vltava river from
A Martyr for Confession - Legend of St John of Nepomuk
John of Nepomuk was born in the early 1340s in the Bohemian town of Pomuk, later rising to become vicar general of the Prague archdiocese under Archbishop Jan of Jenštejn. In that role, he became privy to the confidential confessions of Queen Sophie. Legend holds that King Wenceslaus IV demanded the queen’s secrets, suspecting her of infidelity. Bound by the sacramental seal, John refused to betray his sacred vow of silence. His defiance infuriated the king, who allegedly ordered John’s arrest and torture. Finally, in 1393, John was thrown from the old Stone Bridge (aka Charles Bridge) into the depths of the Vltava and drowned—his body later recovered and enshrined as a relic.
Whether every detail of the story is historically accurate remains debated by scholars. Some suggest political motives and church power struggles lie behind John’s death. After all, it has always been common for the elites to get rid of outspoken influencers, and the famous priest was no exception. Regardless, his refusal to betray the sanctity of confession resonated deeply with Catholics and Protestants alike, fostering a potent symbol of moral integrity in the face of tyranny.
Silver tomb of St. John of Nepomuk in the St. Vitus Cathedral
The Journey of St. John of Nepomuk’s Remains: Silver Tomb and Sacred Relics
After St. John of Nepomuk was drowned in the Vltava River, his body was recovered several days later. He was buried in the Cathedral of St. Vitus within Prague Castle, where his remains became an important relic for pilgrims. At first, his grave was covered by a simple marble slab, which soon began to wear out due to the large number of visitors. In the 18th century, a magnificent silver tomb was created to house his body inside the cathedral, crafted using nearly 2 tons of the precious metal. According to tradition, his tongue—the symbol of the priest’s vow of silence—was preserved separately and kept as a sacred relic, emphasising his role as the protector of confession secrets. This silver tongue remains on display and is a powerful reminder of his enduring spiritual significance in Prague and beyond. Later scientific tests had determined that it was actually brain tissue, but by that point, too many centuries had passed to correct the tongue relic narrative.
Tongue of St. John of Nepomuk in the St. Vitus Cathedral
Crafting the Iconic Statue
By the early 18th century, Prague’s civic leaders and Jesuit clergy sought to honor John’s memory and reinforce the Holy See’s influence in Bohemia. In 1683, Pope Innocent XI canonized John of Nepomuk, consolidating his status as the Bohemian saint and patron of confessors, bridges, and floods. Commissioned soon after by Emperor Leopold I, the statue on Charles Bridge was completed by sculptor Jan Brokoff in 1688–1689 and installed near the middle of the span.
Brokoff’s design captures the poignant moment of martyrdom: John is draped in Roman vestments, his hand raised in blessing while the other holds a crucifix. Five stars encircle his head, representing the legend that when John’s body surfaced, a celestial arch of stars hovered above, attesting to divine approval. The reliefs at the base of the statue depict two tragic moments of the saint’s life: the fatal queen’s confession and the throwing of the lifeless priest’s body into the river by the king’s guards.
Statue of St. John of Nepomuk
Polished plaques on the Statue of St John of Nepomuk
Making Wishes at the St. John of Nepomuk Statue: Why Does Everyone Touch the Dog?
Since the 1990s, the reliefs on the St. John of Nepomuk statue have been touched by millions of visitors. Surprisingly, the tradition of making a wish—promised to come true within one year and one day—next to the most famous statue on Charles Bridge is only about 30 years old, despite the saint’s rich history and tragic martyrdom. Historians agree that this ritual did not exist before the fall of communism, and no one knows exactly who started it. Perhaps some tour guides said it as a joke, and it stuck around ;)
I find it particularly amusing that people touch the small dog on the relief. This dog is linked to something very gory: it represents one of the murderers of King Wenceslaus IV’s other wife, so the puppy won’t bring luck!
Plaque commemorating the place where St. John of Nepomuk was thrown into the river.
One longstanding tradition, however, is to pray at the spot where St. John of Nepomuk was thrown into the river, located roughly halfway along Charles Bridge. Look for the plaque depicting St. John floating in the water—it makes the location easy to find. The cross at the edge of the bridge is said to contain the saint’s relics, making this site a significant pilgrimage destination. This plaque usually has shorter lines than the statue itself, so it’s worth a quieter visit.
St. John of Nepomuk's feast day in the Catholic calendar is celebrated on May 16th. There are hundreds of churches consecrated to St. John of Nepomuk around the world, with the highest concentration in the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany—countries with historical ties to the Habsburg Empire. In the Czech Republic alone, there are thousands of statues and several notable churches dedicated to him. Some of the most famous include:
The Pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk at Zelená Hora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Žďár nad Sázavou.
The Church of St. John of Nepomuk in Nepomuk, his birthplace, which evolved from an older sanctuary to a larger Baroque church.
The Church of St. John of Nepomuk on the Rock in Prague, built in the early 18th century.
Charles Bridge, St. John of Nepomuk statue
The Statue Today: Preservation and Tourism
Today, crowds gather around St. John of Nepomuk’s statue on Charles Bridge at all hours. The legend behind the statue has spread worldwide, thanks to guidebooks, movies, novels (including Dan Brown’s Secret of Secrets), and word of mouth. Most visitors are eager to find the famous wish-making spot on the bridge, while others attempt to use the plaque marking the exact location where the saint was thrown into the river as a place to hang locks—though these locks are regularly removed by Prague’s maintenance team and local bloggers in search of content.
As tour guides, we have come to appreciate both the public’s fascination with the statue and the sometimes condescending smiles from well-informed travelers who find the long queues amusing. After all, everyone needs a little bit of a miracle in their life, or at least something to talk about.
Author: Valeriia Zahradnikova, a Prague guide certified by the Prague City Tourism agency. Valeriia and Vaclav have worked in tourism for over 8 years and have guided thousands of Prague visitors.