Column of the Holy Trinity - UNESCO monument - Tourist Information Portal of the Olomouc Region
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Column of the Holy Trinity - UNESCO monument

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Olomouc

Probably the most famous monument of Olomouc is the monumental Baroque column of the Holy Trinity in the Upper Square, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The column was built in 1716-1754 as a flamboyant celebration of the Catholic Church and faith, partly prompted by a sense of gratitude for the end of the plague. The column is 35 m high and is the tallest sculpture in the Czech Republic.

In 2000 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The column is decorated with more than forty statues. Filip Sattler began the magnificent sculptural decoration. After his death, he was succeeded by Ondřej Zahner and the goldsmith Šimon Forstner. The column is dominated by the gilded copper statues of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) accompanied by the Archangel Gabriel on the top and the statue of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on the pedestal below. The base of the column, consisting of three tiers, is surrounded by eighteen other statues of saints and four reliefs. On the top floor are statues of Jesus, St. Anne, St. Joachim, St. Joseph and St. John the Baptist. Along with them there are statues of St. Lawrence and St. Jerome. On the lowest floor you can see the figures of St. Moritz, St. Wenceslas, St. Florian, St. John of Capistrano, St. Anthony and St. Alois Gonzaga. Among these statues are carved reliefs of the twelve apostles. On the lower floor you can see 12 statues of luminaries.

There is also a statue of St. John Sarkander, which stands on the second floor. John Sarkander worked in many places in the Olomouc diocese and was martyred here in 1620. Sarkander was beatified in 1859 and canonized in 1995 on the occasion of Pope John Paul II's visit to Olomouc.

The column also contains a small chapel with reliefs depicting sacrifices to the gods Cain, Abel, Noah and Abraham. It also depicts the death of Jesus on the cross. The cities of Jerusalem and Olomouc can be seen in the background of this relief. The chapel is open in the season and you can also have a guided tour.

Directly on the Upper Square you can admire many other unique sights - a set of Baroque fountains, the Olomouc Town Hall with the astronomical clock and nearby you will notice the tower of St. Moritz Church.

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Horní nám. 583
779 11 Olomouc

Do you know

  • The builder of the column, Václav Render, died during the construction and only managed to build the first floor. In accordance with his will, all the property he left behind was donated to the completion of the column.
  • The consecration of the column on 9 September 1754 was also attended by Empress Maria Theresa.
  • Just four years later, when Olomouc was besieged by the Prussian army, the column was hit several times by cannonballs from Prussian cannons. Soon after the war, the column was repaired and an imitation cannonball was inserted into its shaft to commemorate the event to this day.

Famous personalities

  • Marie Terezie