Holy Trinity column in Trutnov

The Holy Trinity Column in Trutnov is an eleven-metre Baroque votive column standing on Krakonošovo náměstí, the main square of this town at the foot of the Krkonoše (Giant) Mountains. Erected in 1704, its group of eight saints' figures arranged in tiers on a square base has remained one of the most recognizable landmarks of the town centre for over three hundred years.

Where exactly does the column stand?

The monument occupies the heart of Trutnov, on Krakonošovo náměstí — a square named after Krakonoš, the legendary mountain spirit said to watch over the Krkonoše range. As the town's main square, surrounded by the historic centre's core buildings, the column serves as a natural landmark for anyone exploring Trutnov on foot.

Who commissioned the column, and when was it built?

The column was commissioned by Jan Jiří Najdík, a citizen of Trutnov, in 1704. The date itself isn't written out as a plain number — it's encoded as a cryptogram within the Latin inscription, where emphasized, enlarged letters read as Roman numerals spell out the year of construction. This technique, known as a chronogram, was a favored device in Baroque-era epigraphy, blending religious text with a hidden historical marker.

What does the column look like?

Standing eleven metres tall, the monument consists of eight figures of saints arranged in tiers across two circles on a square base, crowned by a central composition dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The pedestal carries inscriptions in three languages — Czech, German, and Latin — reflecting the multilingual character of Trutnov's burgher community at the turn of the 18th century, a town on the Czech-Silesian borderland inhabited by both Czech and German-speaking residents.

Why did Czech towns build columns like this?

Columns dedicated to the Holy Trinity, often referred to as plague columns, were among the most popular forms of Baroque votive monument across Bohemia and Central Europe at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. They were typically raised in thanksgiving for the end of a plague epidemic, or as a votive offering seeking protection from a future outbreak, funded either by town authorities or by wealthy burghers — as was the case in Trutnov. Similar monuments, though on a considerably grander scale, can be found in Olomouc (inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List), Karlovy Vary, and Prague's Malá Strana district. Trutnov's column belongs to the same tradition, even if it remains far less known than its more celebrated counterparts.

What stood here before the column?

Before the monument was erected, the same spot on the square held a pillory — part of the town's judicial infrastructure, in use during the 16th century and, on exceptional occasions, for executions. Replacing the pillory with a religious monument at the turn of the 18th century illustrates a broader shift in how public space functioned in towns of the period: from a site of punishment to one of religious remembrance and civic identity.

What should you know before visiting?

The column stands in the open space of the square, accessible year-round and free of charge, and can easily be combined with a walk through the rest of Trutnov's historic centre. It makes a good starting point for exploring the square and surrounding streets of a town that serves as one of the main gateways to the Krkonoše Mountains on the Czech side.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Holy Trinity Column in Trutnov built? In 1704 — the date is encoded as a chronogram within the Latin inscription on the pedestal.

Who commissioned the monument? Jan Jiří Najdík, a citizen of Trutnov.

How tall is it, and how many figures does it feature? Eleven metres tall, with eight saints' figures arranged in tiers across two circles on a square base.

Why were columns like this built in Baroque towns? Most often in thanksgiving for the end of a plague epidemic or as a votive offering against a future outbreak — similar monuments stand in Olomouc, Karlovy Vary, and Prague.

What stood on this spot before the column? A pillory, part of the town's judicial infrastructure, still in use during the 16th century.