Mixed feelings. I traveled from Prague with the main intention of seeing this monument, only to discover that the column is currently under renovation, obscured almost entirely by scaffolding and white cloths!

From what I could make out through the coverings, the intricate details of the column were barely visible. Despite this, I spent as much time as possible absorbing what I could barely make out underneath the renovation works, reading the displays around the site, and doing additional research online to understand its significance better. Even under these unfortunate circumstances I found the column's history and the reasons for its inscription interesting.

So it’s really disappointing but I’m considering this a valid visit, based on the guidelines discussed in the community post, "When does a visit count?"—especially the idea that if one sincerely tries to appreciate the site's value, it counts as a visit. I was there, I engaged with its history, and I left with memories, albeit not the ones I had hoped for.

Beyond the column, Olomouc itself was a charming place. The town center is full of hidden gems, and even after all these years (see previous reviews) it feels so untouched by tourism unlike Prague. I also saw 5 of the Baroque fountains and the smaller plague column nearby, and I actually found the square containing this smaller column a lot nicer to pass the time in. All of these nearby monuments which were part of the original proposal for the site provided some consolation. A particular highlight was the socialist-era astronomical clock, which, in my opinion, is more intriguing than the one in Prague, especially given its lack of crowds.

So while the Holy Trinity Column is unfortunately shrouded in renovation works for the next few years, Olomouc is still very much worth a visit. It’s a great place to explore at a leisurely pace, and it didn’t feel like a wasted day given how inaccessible the site itself was. But if your only aim is to see the column, keep in mind the renovation works, which I am told are planned to continue for 3 years from April 2024. So I suppose I could have gone to university in this town and still wouldn’t have even got to see the column without renovation works, which is a bit of a consolation!