News

The Stone Cross

06/25/2009

By the time the Stone Cross was erected, Kozojedy was already a well-established town. The first mention of the town dates to 1352 as an agricultural and market town connected to the nearby Krašov Castle (which itself dates back to 1232). Though all that now remains of Krašov is ruins, Kozojedy remains home to over 600 residents.

In 1864, the people of Pilsen presented Kozojedy the Stone Cross to replace a damaged wooden cross which had stood on the same spot for a countless number of years. The Stone Cross was erected just southwest of town at the crossroad as a landmark for all those who worked the fields nearby or visited Kozojedy for the weekly market.

Just over 50 years after it was erected, local residents planted two locust trees and two linden trees (the national tree of the Czech Republic) to honor the 600th anniversary of the birth of Charles IV.

The Stone Cross was heavily damaged years ago, though how it occurred is unclear. Many small monuments in Bohemia with any religious imagery were neglected or intentionally damaged as state policy under communism, so we may never know its true history.

Residents of Kozojedy and an expert art restorer are now working together to restore the stone base (including the now-illegible Latin inscription) and the iron cross itself. This work is made possible through a grant of 20,230 CZK (approximately $1,100) from the Czech Heritage Society.

Please check back to see how the restoration of the Stone Cross progresses!