Statue of Saint John of Nepomuk - St. John Ensisheim

John of Nepomuk is one of the most revered saints, offering protection in many areas: he is the patron saint of boatmen, bridges, priests, and all those whose lives are connected to water.

John was ordained a priest in 1373 and rose through the ranks until he was promoted to archdeacon of Sasz and canon of St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague.
He became the confessor to Queen Sophie of Bavaria, who gave birth to Wenceslas IV in 1389. Because John had criticized the king and refused to betray the queen’s confessions—Wenceslas suspected her of adultery—he was tortured and thrown into the Vltava in 1393; legend has it that at the spot where the river returned the saint’s body, a five-pointed star miraculously appeared in the sky.