For decades upon decades, a massive statue of the Slavic deity Radegast has loomed over the summit of Mt. Radhošť, part of the Beskid mountain range. However, many people are surprised when they come across the same statue on their visit to Prague Zoo. And their surprise is even greater when they learn that the Zoo's Radegast is not a copy, but the original. The reason? The sculptor made two casts in one go.
Year of manufacture: 1929-1931
Material: cast stone with an admixture of crushed granite and with an iron insert
Height: 3.2 m
Weight: 1,400 kg
Curious fact: the statue is hollow
The Radegast statue is the work of Albín Polášek (1879–1965), a native of the town of Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, who went on to head the Department of Sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago. The oeuvre of this famous artist – who is recognized worldwide but especially in the United States – includes, among other works, the well-known sculptural group portraying Saints Cyril and Methodius (Christian missionaries known as "Apostles to the Slavs") that stands next to their chapel on the summit of Mt. Radhošť, as well as President Woodrow Wilson's statue in front of Prague's main train station.
The Radegast statue was cast, under the personal supervision of the sculptor, at the Václav Mašek Foundry in Prague (out of which also came the giant equestrian statue of Hussite general Jan Žižka on Prague's Vítkov Hill, among other well-known works). A one-third-scale model was used to make a mold in which two identical statues were cast. The better-known of the two statues stood, until the 1990s, on the ridge of Mt. Radhošť, before being replaced by a faithful granite replica and moved to the town hall at Frenštát pod Radhoštěm. The harsh mountain climate had been taking too great a toll on it. The other original was donated to Prague Zoo.
Albín Polášek intended to return to his native Beskids in his old age and create a grove dedicated to the primordial deities of Slavic mythology in his garden. Prague's statue of Radegast – the god of the sun, abundance and the harvest – appears to have been intended to take its place among them. Alas, it was not to be. In 1948, a Communist regime was installed in Czechoslovakia: the sculptor would never again return to his native land.
Around the cusp of the 1950s and '60s, workers made a surprising discovery in the garden of the former Václav Mašek Foundry: hiding under a layer of soil and leaves was a statue with animal features. The likely explanation is that it had been hidden there from German occupiers during WWII and then forgotten about. The authorities thought it might make a thematically appropriate addition to a zoo's grounds – and so it was that in 1961 this rare statue of a pagan deity found itself standing in Prague Zoo.
In 2014-15, Prague Zoo's Radegast was restored and given back the bird that had originally perched on the horn of plenty he holds in his right hand. Visitors to Prague Zoo can now admire Radegast in all his original splendor.
The Beskid Mountains are one of the most beautiful places in our country. Their appeal is rooted in their picturesque and varied landscape, but they also offer a whole host of other attractions.
You will be enchanted by richly decorated houses at the Pustevny mountain saddle, which are protected as a national cultural treasure.
To see what life used to be like, head to the Wallachian Open Air Museum in the town of Rožnov pod Radhoštěm.
Go up the observation tower on the summit of Velký Javorník to enjoy lovely views of the Beskids and Moravian Wallachia.
In the hilly area called Horečky, you will get to see the Jiří Raška Ski Jumping Center, named after the Olympic champion and best Czech skier of the 20th century.
Natural Riches
The Beskid Mountains are home to many rare species of animals and plants. That is one of the reasons they were declared a protected landscape area – the largest in the Czech Republic. Their extremely valuable features include, in particular, old-growth forests, which are among the few places in our country that still harbor lynxes, and the only one with populations of wolves and bears.
The Mythical Mt. Radhošť
Upstaging all the other peaks of the Beskids with its historical significance, Mt. Radhošť is a site where the pagan deity Radegast was worshiped in the days of yore. The mountain, which was considered the god's home, now harbors his statue. Also worth a visit is the postcard-perfect wooden Chapel of Sts. Cyril and Methodius on the summit, which is an easy and pleasant walk away from the Pustevny mountain resort.