Maria column (Prostějov)

The Marian Column in Prostějov is a Baroque monument of gratitude that has stood on the town's main square for more than three centuries, recalling an era when plague epidemics devastated local communities. Although its sculptor remains anonymous, the column ranks among the most recognizable religious monuments in this part of Moravia.

Where does the column stand?

The Marian Column stands on T. G. Masaryk Square, right in the historic centre of Prostějov, a town in the Olomouc Region. Its location on the main square was deliberate — the monument was meant to be visible to everyone crossing the marketplace.

Why was the column built?

The column was erected in 1714 as an expression of thanks for the end of a plague epidemic that had killed more than 250 of the town's residents. Raising such a monument was a common gesture of faith and relief after surviving an epidemic, which is why the column is also known locally as the plague column.

Who paid for it?

The monument was funded by Karel Schellenberg, a town lawyer who had previously owned the land on which a monastery of the Merciful Brothers (a Catholic hospitaller order) was later built. His involvement links the column's origins to a broader network of Catholic foundations in the town at the start of the eighteenth century.

Who designed and carved it?

The sculptor's name has not survived. Art historians believe the work came from the workshop of one of the Olomouc sculptors who collaborated with Václav Render, the master behind Olomouc's famous Holy Trinity Column. The column itself was carved from the same type of sandstone used for monuments in Olomouc, tying the Prostějov column to that city's stone-carving tradition.

What happened to the column over the following decades?

During the second half of the twentieth century, trees were planted around the square specifically to hide the Catholic monument from the view of the town hall. Over time, the growing roots and branches began to damage the column's structure. The situation only changed with a thorough renovation of the square in 2015, during which the monument itself was restored.

Does the column still serve a religious purpose?

Yes. Since 2017, Marian devotions have been held at the column on the eighth day of every month, keeping the monument a living site of local devotion rather than a purely historical relic.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Marian Column in Prostějov built? It was erected in 1714 as a votive offering for the end of a plague epidemic.

Who funded the monument? It was funded by town lawyer Karel Schellenberg, the former owner of the land where a monastery of the Merciful Brothers was later built.

Why is it also called the plague column? Because it commemorates the end of a plague epidemic that killed more than 250 residents of Prostějov.

Who sculpted it? The sculptor is unknown, though the work is attributed to the circle of Olomouc sculptors who worked with Václav Render.

Has the column been restored? Yes, in 2015, as part of the renovation of T. G. Masaryk Square, after years of damage caused by trees planted around it.

Are any ceremonies still held at the column? Yes, Marian devotions have taken place there on the eighth day of every month since 2017.