Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc

9 September 1754

The Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc is a monument in the Upper Square in the historic centre of Olomouc, built to the glory of God by the imperial architect Václav Render between 1716 and 1754. The column expressed gratitude for the end of plague in 1716 and was the second column designed and built by the same architect, after the Marian column in the Lower Square. The Holy Trinity Column, lavishly decorated and in many ways more spectacular that the Marian column, also symbolised the glory of the Catholic Church. The work also became an expression of local patriotism, however almost all his masters met with an unhappy end. The column’s author died at the very beginning of the construction, but he bequeathed his property for the purpose of the building the column. Neither his followers, nor the authors of numerous sculptures – Filip Satter and Ondřej Zahner – lived to see the finished column. The consecration celebration was attended by Empress Maria Theresa herself and her husband. Four years later, the Holy Trinity Column was hit several times by the Prussian army during a siege, but it was saved from destruction by the citizens of Olomouc.

The Column is dominated by gilded copper sculptures of the Holy Trinity with Archangel Michael and the Assumption of Virgin Mary on the body of the column. The lower part of the column is divided into three stories and encircled by 18 sculptures of saints and 14 reliefs. The uppermost storey portrays saints connected with the earthly life of Jesus. The middle storey depicts Moravian saints, including Cyril and Methodius, while the lower storey is dedicated to Moravian and Bohemian patron saints, e.g. St. Wenceslaus and St. Maurice. One of the more interesting sculptures is Jan Sarkander, prince martyred at the beginning of the Thirty Years’ War who had not yet even been beatified, let alone canonised, at the time the Column was built. The builders broke tradition and risked a potential conflict with the Vatican. The relief shows the twelve apostles and the allegories of Faith, Hope and Love. The 35-metre Column also contains a small chapel inside of it, with reliefs telling the story of Cain and Abel.