kaple Navštívení Panny Marie (Mníšek pod Brdy) Chapel
The Chapel of Visitation of the Virgin Mary lies in the southwest part of the Mníšek landscape, in the middle of the road between Prague and Příbram St. Hora. It is located on the old road leading to the Primobrem Sanctuary, near today's highway D4, which separates them from contemporary life. Since its inception in 1809, it stands here alone, slightly elevated above the landscape, as a silent testimony of the traveller's customs of our ancestors.
The construction was initiated by Prague builder Edmund Chvalkovský. However, his plans could not have been implemented without the support of a local influential man - Count Josef of Unwerth, who not only provided the land but also contributed building materials. The chapel was consecrated by Bishop Jan Rydlovský of Prague on 5 May 1811, and thus became a recognized place for religious meetings.
Architecturally, this is an interesting construction of a moderate nature. The interior consists of a single-deck space on a square floor plan, which is closed by a slightly detached apside. The main altar is equipped with rococo style. There is a window above the portal with a segment enchantment, previously closed by a tin panel with the Virgin Mary of Kytín. The inner space of украis the cross road and statues of saints - St. Anthony the Hermit, St. Prokop, St. Paul and St. Ivan. The entrance door is double-winged, forged, decorated with tape and stylized plant ornament. There's a big stone cross in front of the chapel. Stairs partially shielded by an old linden lead to the entrance, which was badly damaged by the storm in 2022.
In clear weather, the pilgrims could see the tower of the Svatohora temple in the distance, which added a special spiritual atmosphere to the place. In time, practical amenities joined the chapel's demise - along with the restaurant Malá Světá Hora and the bus station, which still surround it today.
Today the chapel serves the faithful only after prior agreement, the services are not regularly held here. Nevertheless, it remains a remarkable architectural attraction and reminder of the time when pilgrims sought spiritual support in small chapels spread across the countryside on their way to holy places.
Then and now
Drag the slider to compare how the landmark may have looked when it was built with the view today.
The historical appearance on the left is an AI-generated visualisation and serves as inspiration only.
Historical milestones
- 1809
- The building of the chapel by Edmund Chvalkovsky with the support of Count Joseph of Unwerth.
- 1811
- The consecration of the chapel by Bishop Jan Rydlovsky.
Architectural development
A simple building on a square plan with a semi-circular, slightly removed priesthood. A sandbox tower with lantern grows from the saddle roof. The entrance consists of two wing forged doors decorated with plant ornament.
Historical events
May 5, 1811: The consecration of the chapel by the Bishop of Prague, Jan Rydlovský.
Points of interest
- The construction from 1809 was initiated by Prague builder Edmund Chvalkovský with the support of Count Josef of Unwerth. - The chapel was consecrated on May 5, 1811 by Bishop Jan Rydlovsky of Prague. - The interior has a main altar in rococo style and statues of saints. - In clear weather, the pilgrims could see the towers of the St. John's Church. - There are stairs shaded by an old linden, which was damaged by a storm in 2022.
Guide
This guide is narrated by a synthetic voice generated by artificial intelligence.
Show guide text
This text was created by artificial intelligence and has not been editorially reviewed. It may contain inaccuracies.
The Chapel of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary stands in isolation on a slightly elevated spot, which is called Malá Svatá Hora. It is located in the southwestern part of the cadastre of Mníšek pod Brdy, near the old Dobříš road, not far from the turnoff to Kytína. Today it is passed by an elevated crossing of the D4 motorway between Mníšek pod Brdy and Voznice. But once an old road to Příbram and to Svatá Hora led through here.
This very road is connected with the name of the place. The chapel lies roughly halfway between Prague and Příbram, and so pilgrims heading to Svatá Hora often rested here. The naming was also helped by the fact that in clear weather one could glimpse the towers of the Svatá Hora cathedral from here.
The chapel was built in 1809 by Edmund Chvalkovský from Prague. He was helped by the Mníšek count Josef z Unwerthu, who donated the land and building materials. It was consecrated by Prague's consecrating bishop Jan Rychlovský on May 5th, 1811. The building is usually designated as late baroque. However, art historians describe it as an architecturally modest, yet interesting neoclassical chapel.
The interior consists of a single nave on a square floor plan, which is closed by a slightly recessed apse. The main altar is rococo. The decoration is supplemented by a Stations of the Cross and statues of saints, namely Saint Anthony the Hermit, Saint Prokop, Saint Paul and Saint Ivan. Above the portal is a window with a recessed segmental arch. It was once covered by an image of the Virgin Mary of Kytína painted on metal.
The main entrance is closed by double-winged wrought-iron doors. They are decorated with ribbons and stylized plant ornaments.
In front of the chapel stands a large stone cross. A few steps lead to the entrance and it is partially shaded by an old linden tree, which was seriously damaged by a windstorm in 2022.
Tips for visitors
Best time to visit the chapel Visiting the Virgin Mary is early morning or late afternoon, when the light is soft and the surrounding landscape is more peaceful. The ideal time for walking is spring or autumn, when you can avoid the biggest crowds and better perceive the historic atmosphere of the place.
You can get to the memory by car or public transport. Please check the current timetables and connections in the traffic finder.
We recommend that you take with you enough drinking water and comfortable shoes, which is suitable for moving on historical roads around. If you are planning a longer stay, it may be useful to have some refreshments with you.
For photography are the best places right at the chapel where you can capture its classical architecture in the background of the landscape. The best light for the pictures of the building offers just morning or evening time when shadows are not too sharp and the colors seem more natural.
Families with children can take advantage of the proximity of the Restaurant Little Saint Hora for a short rest. A walk along the old Dobříšská road offers a simple route that is suitable for common discovery of history in the natural environment.
Frequently asked questions
Can the monument be visited?
Religious buildings are usually open mainly during services; at other times a visit is normally arranged with the parish or the operator. We have not verified specific times.
Where is the monument?
Location: Mníšek pod Brdy, Středočeský kraj. The map on this page shows the exact spot.
Why is the monument protected?
It is listed in the Central List of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic as a cultural monument (register no. 18720/2-3406).
For kids
Imagine going back 217 years until there was hardly any humanity. There were only a few village chalets and forests in these places. But today I will bring you to the small chapel of the visit of the Virgin Mary in the village Mníšek pod Brdy.
How did it look here? There were a few families who lived here for a living in agriculture. Everyone was having fun at the fire or working in the fields. The chapel wasn't here, but people were meeting in a nearby village for worship. In the summer the children played in the woods and in the winter they were skiing on snow.
Businesses nearby
Do you run a restaurant, accommodation, shop, museum, rental, wellness or other visitor service near this monument? Show yourself directly to the people heading to it — this is how they will see you in the app and on the web:
Events nearby
Zdroj akcí: otevřená data měst a obcí ČR (Národní katalog otevřených dat) a kalendář akcí Národního památkového ústavu.
Nearby
Restaurant Little Saint Hora, bus stop and old Dobříšská road in cadastral area Mníšek pod Brdy.
Accommodation nearby
Themed route
1st bus stop (transport node) - The entry point of the route, which serves as the practical start of the trip to the surroundings. 2. old Dobříšská road (communication) - Historical road that will guide you through the landscape towards the main destination. 3rd Chapel Visitation of the Virgin Mary (chapel) - The main monument of the trip, which will capture its architecture and spiritual atmosphere. 4. Restaurant Little Saint Hora (gastronomic operation) - Ideal place for relaxation and refreshments at the end of walks.
Seasonal recommendations
Spring brings to the surroundings of the chapel the awakening of nature and a fresh green color that creates an optimistic atmosphere. The morning sun gently shines through the young Náśl, which gives the place ease and hope. The best morning for a visit is when the air is the cleanest. We recommend wearing layered clothing because spring weather is often variable in this area and there may be sudden precipitation.
In the summer season the surrounding area is covered with thick greenery and the sun's sunshine is the most intense, which beautifully highlights the details of the building. The atmosphere is alive and full of energy. Due to the increased interest of tourists in the main summer season, it is best to arrive early in the morning to avoid crowds and heat. Don't forget light summer clothes, sun protection and plenty of fluids.
Autumn moons change the landscape into golden and brown shades, which, combined with the morning mist, creates a melancholy and very calm atmosphere. The lighting is softer and ideal for photo lovers. It is advisable to have warmer layers and solid shoes with you, as the roads in the forest can be wet or slippery. Afternoon visits offer the most beautiful colour leaves.
Zimą makes the chapel in the landscape a very quiet and almost noble impression, especially in a time when everything is covered with snow. The day is short and light is very low, creating a darker and more mysterious environment. For comfortable movement it is necessary to choose very warm clothes and shoes with good grip in case of frost. The best time for a tour is around noon when the light is the most.
Visualizations and artistic views
The visualisations are generated by artificial intelligence and serve as inspiration.
Photos from the area
Real photos taken near the monument
Zdroj a licence jsou uvedeny u každého snímku.
Atmosphere of the place
This atmospheric visualisation of the place and period was generated by artificial intelligence. It is not real footage of the location.
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Sources and literature
Photos: Joker Island / Public domain, rozlišení zvýšeno umělou inteligencí — Wikimedia Commons. The author and licence also appear when you hover over the image.
Faktickým podkladem tohoto textu byl článek na Wikipedii, jehož autory jsou přispěvatelé Wikipedie. Článek je dostupný pod licencí CC BY-SA 4.0.
Location on the map
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