Holy Trinity Column
The Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc is a work of art celebrating the power and glory of the Roman Catholic Church. Its construction started in 1717. The total height is 35 meters.
The column is the work of the master stonemason Václav Render, who designed it and mostly paid for it himself. After his death in 1733 he left his fortune to the city of Olomouc. The artist Ondrej Zahner finished his work between 1745 and 1752.
The column is the most splendid example of a Baroque column construction craze all over Central Europe, which started out with Plague columns decorating many town centres in the 17th century and later turned to Trinity columns.
Visit April 2007
Olomouc is a sprawling city in the east of Moravia. I went there by train from Brno, the ride takes about 1.5 hours. Many of the cobbled streets in the historical center were being restored at the time of my visit, giving a first impression of a huge construction site. On my way to the central square where the Trinity Column is located, I passed a very pretty yellow Baroque church which wouldn’t look out of place in the Brazilian capital of Baroque Ouro Preto.
Entering the main square, there was a ‘Wow’-moment when I noticed the column for the first time. It stands higher than the surrounding houses (but not as high as the nearby church). The column is like a clutter of sculptures. Various saints and biblical figures can be recognized when one comes closer. In those sculptures there also is a parallel with Brazil, this time the work of Aleijadinho in Congonhas.
At first instance, not only the Holy Trinity Column but also six baroque fountains and the Marian Plague Column from the same period were proposed for world heritage status by the Czech Republic. However, it was decided by ICOMOS that the latter were not remarkable enough to merit that status. They are worth checking out though when you’re in Olomouc. The Plague column is a more sober version of the Trinity column. And the fountains all have their pretty sculptures too.
More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery
Reviews
Christer Sundberg (Sweden):
 Right in the middle of the town hall square stands the 35 meter high Holy Trinity Column, erected in honour of faith, God and gratitude for the ending of the plague in 1716.
If you only want to see the column it could be done in 10 minutes but the town of Olomouc has much more to offer to the few tourists that eventually end up in this brilliant place.
Filled with beautiful churches, cathedrals, castles and other prominent buildings, Olomouc is a town to linger in for a couple of days just to enjoy and celebrate the fact that all tourism in the Czech Republic seem to be stuck in Prague and so far yet not discovered the rest of this historically rich country. Olomouc is one of its true pearls and as is both a religious centre as well as a leading university town.
Once you are here, don’t forget to enjoy the local culinary delicacy in Olomouc – the soft-cheese Olomoucì Tvarŭžky served with butter, red onion and paprika…mmmmm! |
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David Berlanda (Italy / Czech Republic):
 I have been many times in Olomouc and every time I could admire the Holy Trinity Column. It is a stunning hexagonal memorial column 35 m high and with a diameter of 17 m, projected by Václav Render in the begin of the 18th century, and the best example of a type of monument that you can find only in Central Europe. It is in the “Olomouc Baroque” style and it’s decorated with relieves and 21 religious sculptures made by Ondøej Záhner. It has a circular base with seven steeps and eighteen guard stones with a forged chain. The first level has a small circular chapel, six conical balustrades, two putti, two vases, six pedestals decorated with scrolls and achantus and six statues of saints; it's decorated with pilasters, ribbon motifs, conches and relieves of apostles. The second and the third level are similar. The 10 m monolithic pillar is decorated with fluting and acanthus motifs and has the group of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary with angels. On the top of the capital, decorated with the same motifs, is the group of God the Father, giving a blessing, and Christ with the cross placed on a globe with the Archangel Michael; there is also a star that symbolize the Holy Spirit.
I liked the column also because I have seen a lot of monuments of this type but no one is of its quality. It's worth to be visited if you are in Moravia and justifies the inscription because it is the most important example of this type of monument in the world and the only one inscribed; however I think that could be inscribed the whole two main squares or even the entire centre.
Photo: Olomouc - Holy Trinity Column |
| Date posted: February 2006 |
Ian Cade (England):
 Central Europe’s hidden treasure; Olomouc has somehow avoided all the pitfalls of Prague, Cesky Krumlov and Krakow, and despite being beautiful it is as yet off of most tourists itinerates. This may change as people start to discover more outside Prague and the latest Lonely Planet gives it a glowing review, in the past it has received praise from many individuals ranging from Tolstoy to REM.
The Trinity Column itself sits on the main square, and is breath taking. It is the largest baroque sculpture in Europe, if you have seen any of the other Plague/ Trinity columns in Europe then this will be impressive for its sheer size, it was the first one that I saw and I was massively impressed. It is also one of the few examples to have a chapel in it, which is open one or two times a year, I was very lucky to see it open on two occasions, it is a pretty simple design inside. The column is also one of the largest at 35m and its top is impressively adorned by a gold depiction of the Holy trinity. If you say in Olomouc then it becomes even more impressive at night when it is magnificently lit up.
If you have an interest in baroque architecture then the city is well worth a visit as it contains six fountains and another plague column all in this style (they were originally nominated with the Trinity Column, however it was deemed that the column was of more outstanding value on its own).
The rest of the city is a maze of cobbled streets and fine edifices and also contains the countries second oldest university and this gives the city a fantastic buzz and great night life. The parks that encircle the city are nice especially Bezarucovy sady which gives you impressive views of the massive medieval city walls.
Olomouc is about 3 ½ hours east of Prague 3 hours north of Vienna and 5 hours south of Krakow, making an excellent stop over point between them. It is also a good base for several of the other nearby UNESCO sites. It is one of Central Europe’s cheapest cities and despite the outskirts being a little industrial looking the historic centre is truly one of central Europe’s finest. |
| Date posted: August 2005 |
Ian Cade ():
 This was the site that started me off on my lust for UNESCO sites. It is a really impressive structure and looks even better when lit up at night. It is also very impressive if you have seen some of the other Plague Columns dotted around Central Europe. The town of Olomouc is really fantastic with the centre circled by dominating walls bounded by fantastic parks. The Main Sqaure is impresive with the Trinity Column finishing it of, and the rest of the town is drowning in Fountains and Churches, really a hidden treasure of Central Europe. |
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jeremy tollpuddle (England):
The city of Olomouc is really a beautiful place and the Trinity Column just completes it. The city is one of the best kept secrets of Central Europe and is one of the cheapest places to stay, definate value for money. The Column itself is very impressive set in the main square next to the Town Hall with its Communist Era Astronoomical clock. The Column will probaly be more impressive to those that have seen many of the other Plague Column's around Central Europe, most Czech towns have them and there is and impressive one in Vienna just around the corner from Stephansdom. It is worth stayting around in Olomouc to see it at night when it is impressivly lit up. There is plenty to do in Olomouc, good quality restraunts and they are cheap, and the University makes the city vibrant and means it has a good selection of night life. If you are very lucky (and i mean very lucky!!) the chaple inside the Column may be open but it was only open about two-three times a year!! the city station is about 15 minute walk away but it is a nice walk once you get inside the city walls. Olomouc is a really well kept secretand has a host of other features in the old town, including six baroque fountains and another Plague column!! I really can not recomend Olomouc more. |
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