Even though I learned during our 2017 visit that this monument was created as a vow to save the people, I never imagined we would one day live through a pandemic ourselves. After all, this promise dates back to 1679.

The Black Plague devastated Vienna, taking countless lives. In the midst of the crisis, Emperor Leopold I vowed to erect a monument as a sign of gratitude once the epidemic ended. He kept his promise: a temporary wooden column was built first, followed by the permanent stone monument we see today. Many artists contributed to the project, and the result is deeply moving—a powerful symbol of the end of suffering, of hope, and of spiritual faith.

Inaugurated in 1694, the 69‑foot‑tall Plague Column stands on Graben Street in the heart of the city. Time has left a few fragile marks on it, but its emotional weight remains intact.

I’ve found myself thinking about this place often in recent months. I wonder why.

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