Pranýř, Medieval whipping post at Frymburk Square, Czech Republic
Pranýř is a stone whipping post located in the center of Frymburk's main square. Historical records show it was built in 1651 and features an engraved date marking on its surface.
The post was constructed in 1651 during a period when such punishment structures existed in many European towns. Later, a fire bell from the destroyed Saint Bartholomew church was added to the structure.
The post was a place where convicted people faced public shame and humiliation as punishment. Different marks and symbols on the structure indicated specific types of crimes or wrongdoings.
The post stands on the central square and is easy to locate and access. The location is free to visit at any time since it is an outdoor structure.
The date 1651 carved on the post probably marks not its construction but the year a fire bell was mounted on it, according to the German chronicle of Frymburk. The bell likely came from the church of St Bartholomew, burned in 1648 during the Swedish raid of the Thirty Years' War.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,879 contributors worldwide.
