Maria column in Klášterec nad Ohří, Chomutovská, nearby the church

The Marian column by the church in Klášterec nad Ohří stands on Chomutovská street, right next to the town's church, and counts among the modest but noteworthy sacred monuments of this town on the Ohře river. It is crowned with late Rococo statues of four saints, dated to 1771, and its history traces back to an entirely different village than the one where it stands today.

Where exactly does the column stand?

The column is located in Klášterec nad Ohří, on Chomutovská street, directly next to the local church. Anyone exploring the town centre can find it easily by heading toward the church building — the column, topped with statues of saints, stands on a small plot beside the churchyard wall.

Which saints are shown on the column?

Four late Rococo statues crown the column: Saint Barbara, patron of miners and those working in dangerous trades; Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, the parents of the Virgin Mary; and Saint Aloysius. This combination — Mary's parents alongside two further saints — was a common choice for votive and Marian columns erected across 18th-century Bohemia, typically as an expression of thanks for the end of an epidemic or for another favour requested in prayer.

Why does this column have such an unusual history?

The column was not originally built in Klášterec nad Ohří. It first stood in the village of Prunéřov, opposite the local rectory. At some point it was relocated from there and placed beside the church in Klášterec nad Ohří, where it remains today. Moving Baroque and Rococo Marian columns from smaller villages to larger towns — often driven by administrative changes, industrial expansion, or the disappearance of the original settlement — was not an isolated occurrence in the wider Krušné hory (Ore Mountains) region; other sacred monuments from nearby villages were relocated to Klášterec nad Ohří in a similar way.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Standing right beside the church, the column is a natural stop on a short walk through the centre of Klášterec nad Ohří. The town itself lies on the Ohře river in the Karlovy Vary Region and is best known for its nearby chateau and well-preserved historic centre, making it a convenient base for exploring the wider area.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Marian column in Klášterec nad Ohří made? The statues crowning the column are dated to 1771 and were carved in the late Rococo style.

Which saints does the column depict? The four figures represent Saint Barbara, Saint Joachim, Saint Anne and Saint Aloysius.

Has the column always stood in Klášterec nad Ohří? No. It originally stood in Prunéřov, opposite the rectory there, before being relocated to its current position beside the church in Klášterec nad Ohří.

Where in Klášterec nad Ohří can visitors find the column? On Chomutovská street, directly next to the town church, in the town centre.

Why was the column moved from Prunéřov to Klášterec nad Ohří? The exact reason and date of the relocation are not recorded, but moving sacred columns from smaller villages to larger towns was a common practice across the Krušné hory region.