St Florian's Statue in Brzesko

The statue of St Florian stands in the central part of the Market Square (Rynek) in Brzesko. It is a late Baroque figure from 1731, regarded as the oldest monument of its kind in the region. It was erected out of gratitude and in the hope of protecting the town from fire.

History

The statue was funded by the townspeople of Brzesko after the town fire of 1723. The figure was put up on 26 November 1731, and the sculptor is unknown. After the great fire of 1904 the statue was restored in 1906 and moved to its present place on the square. Further renovations took place in 1941, 1967 and 2003.

Appearance

The white sandstone sculpture shows the saint as a Roman soldier in a helmet, holding a furled banner in his left hand. In his right hand he holds a vessel of water, with which he puts out a burning building at his feet. The figure faces the northern side of the square, and its pedestal is joined to stone steps. A Latin inscription mentions a town “burnt so many times” that places itself under the saint's protection.

Practical information

• Place: the Market Square in Brzesko, accessible without a ticket.
• Right next to it stand St James the Apostle's Church and the regional museum.