Štaufský sloup (Cheb)

Štaufský sloup, the Hohenstaufen memorial column, stands right outside the gate of Cheb Castle and is the first monument of its kind in the Czech Republic. The eight-sided travertine column honors the medieval dynasty whose rulers shaped the town's fate for centuries.

Why does this monument stand in Cheb?

Cheb (historically known as Eger) was one of the key residences of the Hohenstaufen dynasty within the Holy Roman Empire. Emperor Frederick Barbarossa had an imperial palace (Kaiserpfalz) built here, and its remains still form the foundations of Cheb Castle today, including the surviving Romanesque castle chapel and the Black Tower. This documented imperial presence is exactly why Cheb was included in a Europe-wide network of sites commemorating the Hohenstaufens.

The column was unveiled in July 2013, exactly 800 years after an event of special significance for the town: Barbarossa's grandson, Emperor Frederick II, signed the so-called Golden Bull of Eger in the castle chapel — a decree regulating the relationship between secular and ecclesiastical power in the empire.

What does the monument look like?

The sloup is a four-ton, eight-sided travertine column designed by German sculptor Markus Wolf of Stuttgart. Including its base, it stands 2.95 meters tall. The upper part carries a gilded rim symbolizing a royal crown, while the lower section is engraved with the coats of arms of the Hohenstaufens, the Přemyslids, the town of Cheb, and the Czech Republic — tying dynastic history to local and national identity in a single object.

What is the pan-European Staufer column project?

The Cheb monument is the twenty-first Staufer stele erected in Europe and the first on Czech territory. Similar columns stand in towns across Germany, Austria, and Italy, wherever the Hohenstaufens left a lasting historical mark — through buildings, town charters, or major political events. The project's goal is to visually link these places into a shared historical trail illustrating how far the dynasty's influence reached across medieval Europe.

Where exactly does the column stand?

The sloup is located directly at the entrance to Cheb Castle grounds, in the heart of the town's historic center. It makes a natural starting point for exploring the castle itself, where the surviving Romanesque chapel, the Black Tower, and the remains of the imperial palace immediately explain why this particular site earned the monument.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Štaufský sloup in Cheb unveiled? It was unveiled in July 2013, on the 800th anniversary of Emperor Frederick II signing the Golden Bull of Eger.

Why is it the first monument of its kind in the Czech Republic? Cheb was one of the few places outside German-speaking territory where the Hohenstaufens had a documented, permanent residence — an imperial palace whose remains survive within the castle walls to this day.

What is the column made of? Travertine. It weighs around four tons and stands nearly 3 meters tall including its base. It was created by sculptor Markus Wolf of Stuttgart.

What do the coats of arms on the column represent? The arms of the Hohenstaufens, the Přemyslids, the town of Cheb, and the Czech Republic, linking dynastic history with local identity.

Is there anything else to see nearby? Yes — the column stands right at the entrance to Cheb Castle, where the Romanesque chapel and the Black Tower, both directly tied to the Hohenstaufens' presence in the town, have survived to this day.