Prague's Holy Trinity Column damaged by lightning strike

A severe storm wreaked havoc across Prague on Wednesday evening, leaving destruction throughout the city that included damage to a historical monument, the City of Prague 1 has announced on social media.

Prague's Holy Trinity Column, a baroque landmark that stands at Malostranské náměstí, was directly struck by lightning during the storm. The lightning specifically hit the triangular Eye of God atop the column, resulting in damage to the statue of St. Wenceslas lower down the landmark.

Preliminary estimates place the damage to the Holy Trinity Column at tens to hundreds of thousands of crowns, Linda Klečková, head of Prague 1's culture, sports, and foreign relations department, writes on the city's website.

Pražský deník noted on Thursday that fragments from the column were propelled up to twenty meters away during the lightning strike, causing minor damages to several parked vehicles in the vicinity of Malostranské náměstí.

The column's statue of St. Wenceslas and part of its cornice were visibly damaged. However, statues of other Czech saints and patrons on the column, such as Jan Nepomucký, Ludmila, Prokop, and Vojtěch, appeared to remain unscathed. Likewise, the representations of the Holy Trinity and the Virgin Mary exhibited no signs of damage.

City police secured the area around the damaged column following the storm. According to Klečková, St. Wenceslas' golden sword and other fragments that fell off the statue were carefully retrieved and preserved by restorers. The National Monument Institute was informed of the incident.

While the monument is now stabilized, experts are set to evaluate the extent of the damage and the column's overall condition. The City of Prague 1 will negotiate with an insurance company to facilitate the necessary renovations for the restoration of the monument.

The Holy Trinity Column holds historical significance for the Czech capital, and was originally erected by grateful townspeople as a gesture of gratitude for the end of a devastating plague epidemic in 1715.

This monumental structure, constructed over several years with contributions from various artisans, features intricate designs and statues symbolizing life, grace, salvation, and the Holy Trinity.

The storm that struck Prague on Wednesday also resulted in other substantial damages throughout the city, including flooding at the basement of the State Opera building, causing millions of crowns worth of losses.