In Am Hof square, in front of the church, there is a monument – a black matte column with a figure of the Virgin Mary at the top and angels at its base. This column is called «Mariensäule» and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who saved Vienna from the Swedish invaders.
It is said that when the threat of a Swedish attack became obvious, the Viennese Kaiser promised that he would erect a monument to the Virgin Mary if she helped save the city from destruction. And the miracle happened! The Swedish general Torstensson withdrew his troops from Vienna, and the capital of Austria was spared. Kaiser Ferdinand III kept his word - in 1646 the monument he had promised was erected on the square.
That column was made of stone, but in 1667, by order of Ferdinand's son, who had become Kaiser, the monument was dismantled and moved to Wernstein, where it remains to this day. And a bronze copy, cast by Balthasar Herold together with Carlo Martino Carlone and Carlo Canevale, was installed on the square. By the way, it looks very much like Munich's Virgin Mary Column.
Today, people often arrange dates and friendly meetings by this monument. This is one of the favorite places both for Vienna residents and for the city's guests.
