MEMORIAL ON THE PATH TO DÍVČÍ SKOK
Introduction
The memorial is located beside the forest path leading from Hotel Panorama around Gallows Hill toward Dívčí skok. Its position near the historic town execution site gives the place a particular atmosphere. The object itself is inconspicuous and may easily escape attention without knowledge of the local tradition.
The Story
According to local accounts, the memorial dates back to the Second World War. A father is said to have lived in Jáchymov with his two children – a boy of about ten and a baby girl in a pram. One day the father had to go to work and entrusted the boy with looking after his younger sister. The boy took her outside but became absorbed in playing and forgot the pram by the forest path. When the father returned home late at night and discovered that his daughter was missing, a search began. The child was eventually found exactly where she had been left, peacefully asleep and unharmed. The event was interpreted as a miracle or an act of higher protection, especially given that the historic town gallows had stood not far from this place for centuries. In gratitude, the father is said to have placed a stone here bearing a message of thanks.
Later History
After the war, the German population was expelled and the site gradually fell into oblivion. A uranium mine was later established nearby and the area became inaccessible for a period of time. The memorial became overgrown and its story nearly vanished. According to another part of the narrative, after political changes a woman returned regularly to the place, claiming to be the once-forgotten child. She reportedly lit candles here and placed a photograph of a little girl in a protective frame. It is not known whether anyone continues to care for the site today.
Other Explanations
Besides this story, another version claims that the memorial commemorates a boy who disappeared or died here in 1943. This interpretation would correspond more closely to a traditional place of mourning connected with a specific tragic event. So far, it has not been possible to determine conclusively which version, if any, is historically accurate.
Conclusion
The memorial on the path to Dívčí skok thus remains a place of uncertain origin. It may represent gratitude for a narrowly avoided tragedy, or it may commemorate a real and tragic loss. Without archival evidence or testimony from witnesses, its true history cannot be reliably established.
Call for Information
Anyone who possesses photographs, archival records, or personal memories related to this site may significantly contribute to clarifying its history.
