St. Anne’s Column

St. Anne’s Column is a historical monument in the city centre of Innsbruck, Austria. It was erected in 1703 to commemorate the liberation of Tyrol from the Bavarian troops during the War of the Spanish Succession. The column is made of red marble and has a statue of St. Mary on top, surrounded by four statues of saints at the base. It is a symbol of the Tyrolean resistance and faith.

The Origin of St. Anne’s Column

The column was erected in 1703, during the War of the Spanish Succession, a conflict that involved most of Europe over the succession of the Spanish throne. Tyrol, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire, was invaded by Bavarian troops, who were allied with France and Spain. The Tyrolean people resisted the invasion, and on St. Anne’s Day (26 July), they managed to defeat and drive out the Bavarians from their land. This victory was seen as a divine intervention, and the Landstände, the representative assembly of Tyrol, made a vow to build a monument to commemorate the event and express their gratitude to God.

The Design of St. Anne’s Column

The column was crafted from red Kramsach marble by Cristoforo Benedetti, a sculptor from Trient (now Trento, Italy). The column has a Baroque style, and it is adorned with four statues of saints on the base. These saints are:

Saint Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who faces north. She is the patron saint of the column and the protector of Tyrol.
Saint Cassian, who faces west. He is the patron saint of the Diocese of Bozen-Brixen (now Bolzano-Bressanone, Italy), which covers the southern part of Tyrol.
Saint Vigilius, who faces east. He is the patron saint of the Diocese of Trient, which covers the eastern part of Tyrol.
Saint George, who faces south. He is the patron saint of the Tyrol and the symbol of courage and faith.

The column, which stands 42 meters (137 feet) tall, features a statue of Mary as the Woman of the Apocalypse, as described in the Book of Revelation. She is depicted as a crowned woman clothed with the sun, standing on a crescent moon, and holding a scepter and a child. She represents the triumph of good over evil, and the hope of salvation. She overlooks the four statues of saints below, as well as the city and the mountains.

The Consecration and Restoration of St. Anne’s Column

On July 26, 1706, Prince-Bishop Kaspar Ignaz, Count of Künigl consecrated the column, and it became a landmark and a symbol of gratitude and faith for the Tyrolean people. The column has undergone multiple restorations throughout the centuries, to preserve its beauty and integrity. In 1958, the decision was made to replace the original figure of Mary with a replica, primarily for conservation purposes. The original figure was then loaned to the Abbey of St. Georgenberg-Fiecht, a Benedictine monastery near Schwaz. It is currently displayed in a side chapel of the abbey church of Fiecht, positioned above the altar dedicated to Saint Mary.

On October 10, 2009, the figures of saints on the base of the monument were also replaced, due to weathering and damage. The original figures can now be found on the first floor of the Altes Landhaus, the former seat of the Landstände and the current seat of the Tyrolean government in Innsbruck.

Innsbruck, Austria