Chapel of Our Lady

The Chapel of Our Lady in Sedlčany is a small, single-nave Baroque cemetery church, known locally by the nickname "Církvička". It stands on the northern edge of town, at the junction of Církvičská and Kňovická streets, surrounded by an old cemetery.

When was the current building built?

The Baroque church visible today was constructed between 1732 and 1735. It was not the first religious building on the site, though — an earlier, smaller Gothic chapel connected to the Franciscans once stood here. When that structure was judged too modest or fell into disrepair, it was replaced by the more imposing Baroque building, while the site kept its original Marian dedication.

Why is it called "Církvička"?

The Czech diminutive "Církvička" — literally "little church" — most likely stuck because of the building's modest size compared with the main parish church in the center of Sedlčany. Locals use this nickname far more often than any formal dedication.

What is inside the chapel?

The interior holds three Baroque altars, modest in scale but stylistically consistent with the 18th-century structure around them. The most valuable piece of furnishing is a painting of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child. A separate highlight is a 17th-century canvas from the Flemish school, depicting Mary nursing the Christ Child — a work with a clearly different artistic origin from the rest of the local Baroque furnishings, which makes it one of the more notable objects in the chapel's collection.

What role does the surrounding cemetery play?

The chapel is encircled by a cemetery founded in 1821, fully enclosed by a wall. It contains numerous 19th-century gravestones, some of considerable historical and artistic value. The layout — a compact, walled cemetery with the chapel at its center — is typical of church cemeteries established in Bohemia during that period.

Is the chapel still used for services today?

The chapel no longer hosts regular religious services. Today it is used mainly in connection with funerals held in the adjoining cemetery, which fits its historical role as a cemetery church rather than a parish one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can visitors go inside the Chapel of Our Lady in Sedlčany? The building functions as a cemetery chapel and is not permanently open to visitors — access to the interior is usually tied to funeral ceremonies taking place there.

Is this the same building that stood here in medieval times? No. The current Baroque structure dates from 1732–1735 and replaced an earlier Gothic chapel connected to the Franciscans that stood on the same spot.

Where does the nickname "Církvička" come from? It is a local diminutive that most likely refers to the building's small size compared with the town's main parish church.

What is the most valuable item inside the chapel? The 17th-century Flemish school painting of Mary nursing the Christ Child is considered especially valuable, alongside a painting of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child and the three Baroque altars.