column of the Virgin Mary Immaculate in Kutná Hora

The Column of the Immaculate Virgin Mary is a historic plague column standing on Šultysova Street in the Czech town of Kutná Hora, in the Central Bohemian Region. The monument is listed in the register of cultural monuments of the Czech Republic, meaning its form and surroundings fall under legal heritage protection.

What exactly is a plague column?

Plague columns, also called Marian columns, are a distinctive type of votive monument found across Central Europe, most notably in Czech, Austrian, and Polish towns. Their typical form is a tall, slender stone column topped with the statue of a saint, or — as in this case — with a depiction of the Virgin Mary shown as the Immaculate Conception. Such monuments were traditionally erected in locations clearly visible from the street: at major crossroads, along important thoroughfares, or near a town's centre, so that they would be seen by both residents and travellers passing through.

The column's name directly states its dedication — the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary — and this is the one iconographic detail that can be attributed to this specific monument with certainty based on the available information.

Where exactly does the column stand?

The column stands on Šultysova Street in Kutná Hora, a town in the Central Bohemian Region east of Prague. Its precise geographic coordinates are 49.949428 N, 15.26686 E, making it straightforward to locate on a map and include on a walking route through the town. Šultysova Street itself sits within the older, historic fabric of Kutná Hora, where monuments of this kind traditionally served as recognisable landmarks within the streetscape.

What protection status does it hold?

The Column of the Immaculate Virgin Mary is entered in the register of cultural monuments of the Czech Republic. This listing represents formal recognition of the object as holding significant historical and cultural value for the country — its physical condition, form, and immediate surroundings are subject to oversight by heritage conservation authorities, and any work carried out on the monument must comply with heritage protection rules. For anyone exploring Kutná Hora, this is a sign that this modest-looking piece of the streetscape is worth a second look — plague columns, while rarely the main attraction of a visit, are a lasting trace of a town's past devotion and local history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the Column of the Immaculate Virgin Mary stand? It stands on Šultysova Street in Kutná Hora, in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, at coordinates 49.949428 N, 15.26686 E.

Is it an officially protected monument? Yes — the column is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and falls under heritage protection.

What does the column depict? It is topped with a depiction of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, a motif typical of plague columns erected in towns across Central Europe.

How is a plague column different from an ordinary monument? A plague column is a votive monument with an established, traditional form — a stone column crowned with the statue of a saint — historically placed in visible spots within Central European towns, rather than a one-off, individually designed work.