The construction of a replica of the Marian Column has begun at Old Town Square

Prague - Construction of a replica of the Marian Column began today in the center of Prague at Old Town Square. Its author, Petr Váňa, told reporters on site that the construction site, measuring 7.5 by 7.5 meters, has been fenced and handed over to the construction company. They immediately began removing the pavement and the slab reminiscent of the original column. Prior to the start of construction, archaeologists also surveyed the site. Now, workers will continue uncovering the original foundations, which, according to the sculptor, extend to about two meters deep. The column is expected to be completed by mid-September.

"It is interesting that there is probably an original foundation stone from 1650 somewhere there, under which the founding document should be," said the sculptor. He added that the historically valuable artifact should be located about half a meter deep among the original foundation stones. They will be fully uncovered, cleaned, and examined by archaeologists, after which a foundation slab for the new column will be placed on them. "Only then will we be able to place the stones for the new column," added the sculptor.

The placement of the foundation slab is scheduled to be completed by the end of March when Easter markets will begin in the square. During their occurrence, work will be interrupted and the construction site cleared. According to the sculptor, construction of the base of the replica, the column with the statue of the Virgin Mary, and the balustrade that will surround it should start on April 24 and should be finished by mid-September according to the work schedule.

Everyone involved in the restoration of the column, according to Váňa, is doing so for free, which applies to both companies and individuals. Prague has also contributed, which usually charges a fee for construction site occupancy in such cases. Given the location, the fee would have been around one million crowns, but the city decided to waive it. Once completed, the column will belong to Prague.

Váňa and his team have been working on the replica for 23 years. "Every year we dedicated about two months of work to it," said the sculptor. He added that the creation of the replica has essentially been funded by other contracts, such as copies of sculptures for Prague's Loreto or the sculpture of the Geniuses in the National Museum. "These copies I made are actually kind of the donors of the statue for Old Town Square," said the sculptor.

Prague city councilors had repeatedly refused to express agreement with the placement of the replica of the original column. The situation changed at the end of January this year when a majority was found in the council to revoke the city's original dissenting opinion. Consequently, the city's Technical Administration of Communications permitted the construction occupancy. According to Váňa, all organizations, including the Prague 1 city hall, are now supportive of the project.

Last year, the sculptor brought the replica of the column in about 250 parts to Prague by boat and subsequently tried to start construction in the square, which was prevented by police due to the lack of occupancy. Afterwards, the sculptor left the work on the boat on the Vltava River and continued to work with his team of stonemasons on its completion.

Not all Praguers are in favor of the return of the column. Petitions against it have also emerged, one of which is organized by former communist MP and Prague councilor Marta Semelová. She was collecting signatures there today afternoon right at the construction site. "We announced the petition right after the councilors approved support for the column in January," Semelová told ČTK. The goal of the petition is to call for a referendum in which Praguers would vote on the return of the column. Semelová added that they have not yet counted the signatures.

The original column from the 17th century was toppled by a crowd in 1918 because they saw it as a symbol of the Habsburg monarchy. Its return has been discussed since the 1990s. Proponents of the restoration consider it a symbol and a memory of the defenders of Prague during the Thirty Years' War and a significant baroque work of art. Opponents see it as a symbol of Habsburg dominance and intolerant re-Catholicization of the country.