Chapel in Podmokly

The chapel in Podmokly is a small brick chapel standing in the village of Podmokly, in the Pošumaví region at the foot of the Šumava mountains in the Czech Republic. Dating from the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, it is one of the oldest surviving structures in this modest settlement, which sits in the valley of the Podmokelský stream.

Where exactly is the chapel located?

Podmokly is a village roughly 4 km east (as the crow flies) of the town of Sušice, in the Klatovy district of the Pilsen Region. It stretches along the valley of the small Podmokelský stream, surrounded by the gentle hills that form the foothills of the Šumava range. The chapel stands in the middle of the village, on a small square that still functions as the local gathering point. It is worth noting that several places named Podmokly exist in the Czech Republic — the one described here lies in the Šumava foothills near Sušice, and should not be confused with Podmokly that forms part of Děčín in northern Bohemia.

What does the chapel look like, and what is its history?

The building has a Baroque origin and is dated to the late 18th century. It was built from brick in the modest, rural style typical of small wayside and village chapels found throughout the region — without elaborate architectural detail, but topped with a simple metal cross on the roof or gable. This kind of plain construction was characteristic of chapels funded by local rural communities, which lacked the resources for grand churches but still wanted their own place of prayer and a recognizable landmark within the village. Available sources also link the chapel to the veneration of St. John of Nepomuk, a saint widely honored in Czech villages as a protector against floods and other water-related misfortune — a fitting association for a settlement built along a stream.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Right on the square in front of the chapel stands an interesting sundial — a rare surviving piece of small-scale village architecture that rewards a closer look during a walk through the village. It is this combination of a modest chapel and a working sundial that gives the spot its character as a small, authentic corner of Šumava, largely untouched by mass tourism. Podmokly itself, though tiny, makes a good starting point for walks through the surrounding Pošumaví hills, as well as for a visit to nearby Sušice, a historic town on the Otava River known for its well-preserved old town and its rafting traditions.

How do you get to the chapel in Podmokly?

The easiest way to reach it is by car from Sušice — the drive covers just a few kilometers along a local road leading into the valley of the Podmokelský stream. A short walk or bike ride is also a realistic option, since the surrounding terrain is gentle, in keeping with the low foothills of Šumava. The chapel sits at the center of the village, so it is easy to spot while driving or walking along the main road through Podmokly.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors go inside the chapel? As a small village chapel, it primarily serves as a local place of worship, and access to the interior is generally limited to services or occasional openings. The exterior and the square with its sundial, however, can be viewed freely at any time.

How old is the chapel? It dates from the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, making it one of the older structures in Podmokly.

Are there other attractions near Podmokly? Yes — the closest is Sušice, with its historic center on the Otava River, and the surrounding area offers hiking and cycling routes through the gentle landscape of the Šumava foothills.

Is this the same Podmokly as the district of Děčín? No. Several villages in the Czech Republic share this name — the chapel described here stands in the village of Podmokly near Sušice, in the Pošumaví region, not in the Podmokly that forms part of the city of Děčín in northern Bohemia.