In Prague, work on the construction of a replica of the Marian column is set to begin

Prague - This week, work on the construction of a replica of the Marian Column is set to begin in Prague's Old Town Square. Archaeological research is likely to start today, followed by work on the foundation, and from the end of April to mid-September, the column with the Virgin Mary is expected to be installed. The author of the replica, sculptor Petr Váňa, told ČTK that he has all the necessary permits and approvals for the construction, and there is nothing preventing the start. The original column from the 17th century was toppled by a crowd in 1918, as it was seen as a symbol of the Habsburg monarchy.

Last year, the sculptor brought the replica, consisting of about 250 pieces, to Prague by boat and subsequently attempted to start construction in the square, which was prevented by the police due to a lack of appropriation. The sculptor then left the work on the boat on the Vltava River and continued working on its completion with a team of stone sculptors.

Prague councilors previously repeatedly refused to express their consent to 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. Following this, the Technical Administration of Communications (TSK) granted the appropriation. According to Váňa, all organizations, including the Prague 1 municipality, are now supportive of the project.

The discussion about the return of the column has been ongoing since the 1990s. Proponents of the restoration consider it a symbol and a tribute to the defenders of Prague during the Thirty Years' War and a significant work of baroque art. According to opponents, it is a symbol of Habsburg rule and the intolerant re-Catholicization of the country.