Maria column in Přeštice

The Marian Column is a Baroque plague column standing on the southern side of the main square in Přeštice, a small town in the South Bohemian region near Plzeň. Erected in the second half of the 17th century, it remains one of the most recognizable landmarks of the town's historic square.

How to get there?

Přeštice lies roughly 20 kilometers south of Plzeň, along the route connecting that city with Klatovy. The square where the column stands sits right in the town center, next to the town hall and the row of historic townhouses that frame the plaza. Přeštice is well connected to Plzeň by both rail and road, making it an easy stop when touring the South Bohemian region.

What does the column show?

Carved from sandstone in an early Baroque style, the column was commissioned by the local dean Vojtěch Matyáš Schram. Its centerpiece is a figure of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, flanked on either side by two smaller statues depicting Saint Wenceslaus and Saint Adalbert, both patron saints of the Czech lands. The whole monument reaches a height of about six meters and forms a triple-figure composition typical of the Baroque votive columns raised across Czech towns during that era.

Columns of this kind were most often built either in thanks for the end of a plague outbreak or as a plea for protection from future epidemics — hence their common name, "plague columns." Placing such a monument at the center of a town square also carried symbolic weight, marking the space as one watched over by its patron saints and reinforcing the religious character of civic life.

The monument's history

The column's story has not been free of drama. In 2002, the statue of Saint Wenceslaus was stolen from the square and was never recovered. Following the theft, town authorities took precautionary measures and removed the remaining side statue, Saint Adalbert, placing it in safe storage to prevent a similar loss. Faithful replicas of both saints were later carved and installed in their original positions, restoring the column's original three-figure appearance alongside the central Marian statue.

Given its historical and artistic value, the Marian Column in Přeštice was entered into the Czech Republic's central register of cultural monuments in 1963, granting it formal legal protection.

When to visit?

Standing in the open square, the column can be viewed year-round regardless of season. Spring and summer offer the most pleasant conditions for exploring the town center on foot, allowing visitors to combine a look at the monument with a stroll past the nearby town hall and surrounding streets. The square in Přeštice also occasionally hosts local markets and events, so it's worth checking the town's calendar before planning a visit.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Marian Column in Přeštice built? The column was erected in 1676 at the initiative of the local dean, Vojtěch Matyáš Schram.

Which figures does the column depict? The central figure is the Immaculate Virgin Mary, flanked by statues of Saint Wenceslaus and Saint Adalbert.

Why was one of the statues replaced? In 2002 the original statue of Saint Wenceslaus was stolen and later replaced with a faithful copy; the statue of Saint Adalbert was removed as a precaution and also replaced with a replica.

Is the column a protected monument? Yes — it has been listed in the register of cultural monuments since 1963, which grants it legal protection.