Overview

On 26 July 1703, Saint Anna's Day, the Bavarians were successfully chased out of Tyrol following disputes concerning the Spanish succession. In memory of this, grateful Tyroleans constructed the Annensäule (Pillar of Anna). Even today, a lantern on the top is lit on Saturday nights, marking a now nearly 300 year-old pledge of gratitude. The Virgin Mary (Maria Immaculata) sits astride the top of this red marble pillar. She is surrounded by Saint Kassian, Vigilius, Georg and Anna (Mary's mother). Such pillars were frequently put up in public places during the baroque period. They usually refer to a danger or threat of some kind; examples of these are the Plague Pillar at the Wiener Graben (cemetery) and a Trinity Pillar on the Linzer Hauptplatz (main square).