Kaple svatého Jana Nepomuckého (Závada) Chapel

The Chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk stands in Závada, part of the municipality of Petrovice u Karviné in the Karviná district. It belongs to the Diocese of Ostrava-Opava, the Karviná deanery and the Roman Catholic parish of Petrovice u Karviné. It has been a cultural monument since 1958.

The chapel was built in the mid-19th century as an expression of local piety. The ten richest farmers of Závada contributed to its construction. In memory of these benefactors, their names were written on the wall behind the altar, but over time they faded away. Interestingly, the chapel was originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary; later it was rededicated to Saint John of Nepomuk. When and why this happened is not known.

The building is a typical village chapel of the second half of the 19th century. It is a plastered brick structure on a rectangular plan with a rounded apse, covered by a gable roof. Its characteristic feature is a small square tower rising from the front above the triangular gable, topped with a bell-shaped roof and a lantern. The façades are divided by pilasters. The side walls have round-arched windows, and the tower has a window with a flattened arch. In the front wall there used to be a glazed niche with a small wooden sculpture of the Holy Trinity. A glazed sheet-metal porch was built in front of the entrance. The interior has a sail vault on two transverse arches.

The chapel’s bell was bought with donations from the faithful of Závada. During the Second World War, however, it was requisitioned. After the war, the villagers held a collection for a new bell, which was bought in 1949.

The chapel has undergone major repairs. In 1996 it received a general overhaul, during which the altar, paintings and statues were restored. At the same time, new pews were installed, the interior was repainted and new electrical wiring was put in. In 2009 the roof timbers were repaired and the sheet-metal roof was replaced with wooden shingles.

The Chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk bears witness to local piety and the close-knit village community. Its recent repairs have helped preserve this modest building for future generations.