The Marksman Who Outlived His Shot by a Day

In 1629, by imperial order, the Old Town community set up a new crucifix here with figures of the Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Mary Magdalene. Eight years later a gale damaged it so badly that it hung by a single iron rod. The repaired cross then witnessed the fighting of 1648: a Czech serving in the Swedish army is said to have shot the head from the figure of Christ, and to have fallen himself that very day. That beautiful head is kept in the Klementinum.