Statue of Charles IV in Karlovy Vary, تمثال في كارلوفي فاري، التشيك
The Statue of Charles IV in Karlovy Vary is a sandstone monument depicting the emperor in a dignified seated pose, placed on a raised base with a relief of the town's coat of arms. Sculptor Otakar Švec portrays him wearing a crown, holding a small house model in one hand to symbolize his role as builder and protector, and a scepter in the other to represent authority.
The monument was created by Prague sculptor Otakar Švec and unveiled in May 1955. Its installation was part of the city's effort to honor Charles IV's role as founder and benefactor during the late 19th century, when Karlovy Vary developed as a major spa destination.
The park name honors Charles IV as the city's founder and underscores his importance to the region. Today the statue is often overlooked by visitors, though it was originally intended as a central monument to celebrate the town's roots and historical connections.
The park is easily reached on foot from the hot spring area, with the walk covering about 500 meters (550 yards) through historic town sections on flat ground. Alternatively, bus number 2 stops nearby at Lázně I, which is particularly useful if arriving from distant parking areas.
Sculptor Otakar Švec was also the artist behind the famous Stalin Monument in Prague, revealing him as a leading sculptor of his era. Despite this prominent career, the Karlovy Vary statue remains relatively overlooked by most visitors, even though it represents a significant work from his artistic period.
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