Nika s reliéfem Salva Guardia, Cultural monument and chapel-shrine in Aš, Czech Republic.
The Salva Guardia relief is a sandstone carved work set within a brick flat pseudo-baroque niche, displaying a two-headed crowned eagle holding imperial symbols. The piece stands at the corner of a garden wall near house number 30/3, which now houses the city museum.
The relief was created in 1724 when Prince Anton Joseph Zedtwitz received permission to display it at his castle gate as a mark of imperial favor. Over the centuries it was relocated multiple times before reaching its present location.
The inscription 'Salva Guardia' above the relief refers to an imperial privilege granting exemption from quartering duties. The double-headed eagle with crown and scepter served as a visible sign of this special status for people in the city.
The relief is visible from outside and can be viewed at any time since it is located at a street corner next to the museum building. Visitors should note that being a carved stone work, it reveals different details from various viewpoints.
The work moved three times over nearly 170 years, traveling from the castle gate to a church entrance and finally to the museum wall where it stands today. Each relocation reflects the city's changing history and shifting priorities over time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
