Iron Maiden in the southeastern Brdy Mountains
We will go to the cast-iron statue of the Virgin Mary, called the Iron Maiden, in southeastern Brda. This important monument of Brda is hidden in the forest west of the ridge, starting from Štěrbina (753 m), continuing to Hradecky Ridge (721 m) and ending with Altán (669 m). It is connected with the story of the young count who was shot and survived.
We will probably follow the yellow trail to the Iron Maiden from the north from Voltuš or from the south from Vacíkovo. It is also possible to use the blue trail, which crosses the yellow one on its way from Bezděkov pod Třemšínem or from Třemšín Hill.
If we go from Voltuš, we will probably stop at the monument of Jakub Jan Ryba on the way, or we will look around from the really nice Voltuš viewpoint. We will pass a hidden rock formation called Kočičí Hrádek on the left. Then on the right side of the road we will find the Štadruž well, followed by the crossroads of the same name. Here yellow meets blue. From here, it is only about 0.5 km to Železná panna on the yellow trail (which disconnects from the blue trail).
From Vacíkovo you will pass the Chytava grove and from there you will follow the yellow line to the Soudná hunting lodge (the Soudná lodge well is nearby). From here we will travel about 2.5 km before we see the niche where the Iron Maiden stands among the trees.
According to the local name, the Iron Maiden is actually a cast-iron statue of the Virgin Mary. It is covered by a niche around which a square enclosure is built. The statue stands on a profiled stone plinth, on which is the inscription 8. Oktober 1880. The sculpture is a representation of Our Lady Immaculata, i.e. Immaculate Mary, standing on the globe, with a snake under her feet and an apple in her mouth - a symbol of Satan. It is a very beautifully executed life-size coloured cast. The Virgin Mary is standing here in a plain, long, ruffled gown, with her palms facing forward.
The creation of this monument in Brda is linked to the story of a young count who was accidentally shot while hunting. After the accident, he recovered under the care of doctors. His prayers were answered and he is said to have had this beautiful and certainly expensive statue erected on the site of the accident. Some sources, however, state that it may have been Count Eduard Pálffy himself who was shot by poachers, but this is not documented.
Jaroslav Hodrment
The Iron Maiden is actually a representation of Our Lady Immaculata, i.e. the Immaculate
On the way to the Iron Maiden from Vacíkovo - hunting lodge Soudná
