Column of Frederick William II

The Column of Frederick William II is a brick monument standing in Szczytnicki Park in Wrocław, erected in 1806.

History of the column

The first, timber-and-plaster column was put up in 1797 after the death of the Prussian king Frederick William II. It burned down in 1805, and a year later was replaced by the current brick structure. A statue of the king originally stood on top of it, removed after 1945. During renovation works in 2016 a fragment of the destroyed statue's hand was found - a sandstone piece 2.4 metres high.

Form

The column has the shape of a cylindrical shaft set on a square base, modelled on the Roman Trajan's Column, and represents classicist architecture. A metal ladder inside leads to the top, which can be climbed.

Present condition

The monument has survived to this day and underwent renovation in 2016.

Practical information

• Address: Szczytnicki Park, Zacisze-Zalesie-Szczytniki district, Wrocław
• Access: within Szczytnicki Park, not far from the Centennial Hall and the Japanese Garden
• What to expect: a brick column from the Napoleonic era amid the park's greenery, with no interior open to visitors