Maria column in Polička, Religious monument in Polička, Czech Republic

The Maria column in Polička is a religious monument featuring a statue of the Virgin Mary atop a tall stone pedestal. The structure displays intricate Baroque details and carved stonework that reflect the craftsmanship of its era.

The column was built in 1727–1731 as thanks for the town's protection from the plague epidemic of 1713. It was carved by sculptor Jiří František Pacák of Litomyšl, probably to a design by František Maxmilián Kaňka, using sandstone from Maletín. Poor stability led to its dismantling in 1742–1743, when its original height of over 25 metres was reduced to 22 metres.

Latin inscriptions from 1731 on the column thank the Virgin Mary for protecting the town from the 1713 plague. A Czech inscription added in 1929 beneath St Joachim records that Jiří Pacák of Litomyšl carved it in 1727–1731 at the town's expense, in memory of the plague of 1713.

The column stands in the middle of Palackého náměstí, so it is reached on foot from any side of the square. The triangular stairway and balustrade around the base are best seen by walking a full circle. Repairs in 1995–1997 left the sandstone surface exposed, so the carvings read most clearly in low morning or evening light.

The column is made of sandstone from quarries at Maletín, not limestone. Local legend says it was raised over a strong spring that threatened floods; the spring was sealed with lead and buried, yet the column still suffered poor stability and was taken down and rebuilt in 1742–1743, cut from over 25 m to 22 m.