Váňův kámen

The mine work in the Kladno mining industry reminded us of the mine work, but it has also happened to many victims

In less than an hour, a bus ran from Prague to Kladno. Having got off at the Gymnasium stop, I, according to the route I had previously developed, headed for Benes Square. Here in a small park there is a sculpture symbolizing the period of industrial prosperity of the city - “Vanuv Stone”. This monument also has a second name: "Mining". It was installed in 1954 in honor of the discovery of the Kladnensky coal deposit, which gave impetus to the economic development of the city. The author of this composition is the sculptor Vladislav Novak. The monument depicts the figure of a miner and geologist Jan Vanuv, who discovered a coal deposit here in 1846. On April 24, 1854, a four-ton solid rock was mined, which was christened in honor of the geologist, calling it “Vanuv Stone”. This stone was installed on the site of the Katerina-Josef mine, where Jan Vanuv made his discovery. In connection with the expansion of the metallurgical plant, the stone had to be moved a little further. Later, he was placed at the crossroads of the road to Dubi and Drzhin, in front of the former district office in the old cemetery. On April 20, 1954, a piece was broken off from it and used in a sculptural composition, which was installed near the gymnasium in Benes Square. Hence the memorable dates stamped on the pedestal of the monument. An interesting fact, in the figure of a miner, the sculptor captured the image of his father.