Description of the attraction
The Holy Trinity Column is a plague pillar located in the very center of Linz on one of the most beautiful medieval squares in Austria - Hauptplatz, which is translated from German as Main Square.
The Baroque landmark of Linz, a 20 meter high white Salzburg marble column, was built between 1717 and 1723 by a Salzburg mason, Sebastian Stumpfegger. The plague pillar was designed by the architect Antonio Beduzzi. The construction of the Holy Trinity Column displeased the governor of the region. In his opinion, the city fathers were too profligate by allocating funds for the purchase of white marble for the column. The governor even ordered a special investigation. By the way, in the chronicle of the Jesuits who supported the governor, this is not mentioned.
The great flood of 1872 caused damage to the Holy Trinity Column. During the Second World War, all decorative gilded elements were removed from the plague pillar and moved to the basements of the buildings on the Main Square. After the war, they were re-installed on the column.
There are three commemorative plaques on the pillar with thanks to the Lord for deliverance from the threat of war (1704), from a fire (1712) and a plague epidemic (1713). On the pedestal there are statues of the saints whose prayer helped during the plague epidemic - St. Sebastian and St. Charles Borromeo. There is also a sculpture of a heavenly patron protecting from fire. This is Saint Florian, guarding firefighters, blacksmiths and everyone who is associated with fire in their professional activities. Also here you can see the sculptural image of the Virgin Mary Immaculate. The column is crowned with a composition depicting the Holy Trinity. It is made of gold plated copper.
