Olomouc, Czech Republic

Holy Trinity Column

On our way from Prague to Krakow, we stop by historic Olomouc (pronounced ˈolomou̯ts], known as one the prettiest towns in the Czech Republic and located in the heart of the Hana region.

This city dates from the Middle Ages and was one of the main centers of Moravia.  In the 11^th century a Diocese was established here and in 1306 the last Czech king, Wenceslas III, was murdered here.

During the Renaissance, Olomouc had 30,000 inhabitants and many magnificent palaces, such as Přemyslid Palace and Olomouc Castle.  Today it is a city of over 100,000 citizens.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Holy Trinity Column dominates the city centre.  It is the largest group of Baroque statues within a single sculptural monument in Central Europe.  There are 18 stone statues of saints, 11 light-bearers, and 6 relief busts of the apostles.  The column is 35 meters high and the lower portion houses a seasonably accessible chapel.

The 35-meter column is topped by a gilded copper sculpture of the Holy Trinity with the Assumption of the Virgin Mary beneath.

Also on the city centre square is the 15^th century astronomical clock on the side of the town hall.  It takes its present appearance from the 1950s when it was refurbished during the communist era after substantial damage during WWII.

In front of the astronomical clock is a scale model of the entire old town in bronze.

St. Wenceslas Cathedral dominates the city skyline with the tallest spire in Moravia and the second largest in the Czech Republic.  St. Moritz Church, dating from 1398, houses the Engler organ, one of the largest in Europe.

St. Michael’s Church, which is quite plain on the outside, features one of the most beautiful Baroque interiors of Central Europe.  It houses a unique painting of an apparently pregnant Virgin Mary, rare for a Catholic church.

This blog, Czech the Flip, has some really good photos of Olomouc.  This video, UNESCO Olomouc (1:00), is a brief visit to the city.

Want to see something really cool?  Go on Google Earth and fly to Holy Trinity Column, Olomouc, Czech Republic.  The monument is one of 19 UNESCO sites that shows in 3D.  Awesome!