Chapel of Saint Adalbert of Prague in Neratovice

The Chapel of Saint Adalbert of Prague in Neratovice stands on Vojtěšská Street, roughly halfway along its length, right on the boundary between Neratovice and the neighboring village of Libiš in the Czech Republic. This small early Baroque pilgrimage chapel is a protected cultural monument, and its origin is tied to a legend about Saint Adalbert, the medieval bishop of Prague.

How did the chapel come to be built?

The chapel was built in 1666, commissioned by Count Ferdinand Vilém Slavata at the urging of Bohuslav Balbín, a Jesuit historian and writer known for his extensive work documenting Czech saints and monuments. Conceived as a pilgrimage site, the building was later altered over the following centuries, though it retains its original early Baroque massing.

What legend is connected to this spot?

According to local tradition, the site is linked to a violent episode from the life of Saint Adalbert. The bishop is said to have passed through the area on his way back from Stará Boleslav, where in 987 he celebrated a commemorative mass for Saint Wenceslas. Local ferrymen who rowed him across the river allegedly demanded payment, and when he refused, they beat him and stole his boots. Centuries later, a chapel was raised on the very spot to commemorate the saint and the incident.

What does the chapel look like inside and out?

The building is a brick rectangular structure closed off at the altar end by a semicircular apse. Its facade carries decorative detailing typical of the early Baroque period, and above the altar section rises a distinctive hexagonal ridge turret, a so-called sanktusník, marking the building's sacred function from a distance.

The chapel's most unusual feature is its wooden Baroque altar, carved in the shape of an oak tree. The tree's spreading branches frame an oval central image of Saint Adalbert, while additional oval portraits of other Czech saints are set among the branches — making it one of the more distinctive examples of Baroque sacred woodcarving in the region.

Can visitors go inside today?

The chapel still belongs to the Roman Catholic parish of Neratovice and remains a functioning place of worship. It is closed to the public on ordinary days and opens only occasionally — for religious services or during the nationwide Night of Churches event, when historic churches across the country welcome visitors outside their usual hours. In recent years the chapel underwent restoration work, during which a statue of Saint Adalbert was placed in the niche above the entrance.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the chapel located? On Vojtěšská Street, right on the border between Neratovice and Libiš, in Central Bohemia.

When was the chapel built? In 1666, funded by Count Ferdinand Vilém Slavata.

What is the story behind the chapel's name? It commemorates Saint Adalbert, who was reportedly attacked and beaten by ferrymen at this location while traveling from Stará Boleslav.

What is the most notable feature inside? A wooden Baroque altar carved in the shape of an oak tree, with oval images of Saint Adalbert and other Czech saints set among its branches.

Is the chapel open to visitors at any time? No — it stays closed on ordinary days and is accessible mainly during services and the annual Night of Churches event.