Kamenný toskánský sloupek

The stone Tuscan column stands on Hankovo náměstí (Hankov Square) in Hořice, east of the town's former chateau, and ranks among the oldest surviving monuments in the town. This modest stone column, built in the Tuscan style, dates back to 1642 and survived into the present day despite a dramatic mid-20th-century episode that nearly erased it from the town's landscape for good.

When was the column built, and by whom?

The column was erected in 1642, during the tenure of Karel Rodovský z Hustířan, the administrator who managed the Hořice estate at the time. The name of the actual craftsman was never recorded, so the maker remains unknown. Stylistically, the column follows the Tuscan order — the plainest of the classical column types, without an ornate capital — which gives the monument its name.

What happened to it in the 20th century?

The column's history took a rough turn in 1957, when it was knocked over by horses that had bolted across the square. The impact broke the column into pieces, which were then kept for decades at the local Stone Carving and Sculpture School (Sochařsko-kamenická škola). Given that Hořice has long been known for its stonemasonry and sculpture tradition, the school was a fitting place for the surviving fragments to wait out the years.

The town funded a full restoration of the column toward the end of the 1990s, and around the year 2000 the restored monument was returned to its original spot on Hankovo náměstí — nearly half a century after the accident had removed it from the square.

Is it a protected heritage monument?

Yes. In 2007, the Pardubice branch of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) proposed listing the column as a cultural monument, and the town council backed the proposal. The stone Tuscan column was formally declared a cultural monument of the Czech Republic on 25 January 2014.

Why is it also called "boží muka"?

The monument is sometimes referred to as "boží muka," a traditional Czech term for wayside shrines and devotional columns once erected at crossroads or town squares as an expression of the founder's piety. The Hořice column fits into this tradition of small-scale religious architecture, though its defining feature remains the plain, unadorned Tuscan column form rather than elaborate sculptural decoration.

How do you get there?

The column stands on Hankovo náměstí in Hořice, east of the former chateau, at an elevation of roughly 327 meters. The square sits right in the town center, close to other landmarks tied to Hořice's stone-carving heritage, making it an easy stop on a short walk through town.

Frequently asked questions

What year does the column date from? It was built in 1642.

Who commissioned it? It was erected during the administration of Karel Rodovský z Hustířan; the name of the craftsman who made it is unknown.

Why was the column missing from the square for decades? In 1957, runaway horses knocked it over, and its broken fragments were stored at the local stone carving and sculpture school for years afterward.

When was it put back in place? Around the year 2000, following a town-funded restoration.

Is it an officially protected monument? Yes — it has been listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic since 25 January 2014.