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Martin Středa monument in Brno.
Point 6 of 70 of 7 completed
A cannonball that exists because a legend does
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49.1968, 16.6101
On arrival
On Jezuitská, find the bronze figure of Martin Středa and the bronze ball incorporated at the base.
Look closer
Look for the ball's surface and whether repeated touching has made parts of it visibly shinier than the surrounding bronze.
A legend can be historically uncertain and still have a measurable physical afterlife.
Martin Středa was a real Jesuit associated with Brno's defence in 1645, but this stop is about something more precise: how a contemporary monument can declare its debt to legend. Jan Šebánek's bronze sculpture was unveiled to the public in 2020. Kultura Brno says the main design idea comes from the legend of the last Swedish cannonball stopping at Středa's feet. The bronze ball is placed where people can touch it, and the artist intended repeated contact to polish away the dark patina. That turns a legend into a small participatory ritual. Touching the ball does not prove the story happened. It proves the story has become material enough for a city to keep wearing it smooth.
Accessibility at this stop
The sculpture is in public space and can be approached at ground level. Touching is optional; visual observation is sufficient.
These notes describe known conditions at this stop. Urban conditions can change, so assess the situation on site.
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6. A cannonball that exists because a legend does
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