Chapel of Saint Anne

Chapel of Saint Anne in Jilemnice is a small Art Nouveau chapel standing on the eastern slope of Kozinec hill, on the edge of this Krkonoše (Giant Mountains) town. Today it is surrounded by houses, but for most of its existence it stood alone amid open fields, visible from a distance as a landmark on the way up the hillside.

When was the chapel built?

The chapel was built and consecrated in 1908, and its architecture clearly reflects the Art Nouveau style that dominated both religious and secular building across Central Europe at the time. The site itself, however, was already sacred ground before the chapel appeared — an earlier object of devotion had marked the spot, giving the location a continuous role in local religious life.

What stands next to the chapel?

On the south side of the building stands a stone cross from 1844, decorated with an image of Saint Francis of Assisi (Seraphicus). It was funded by a baker, Franc Jezdinský of Hrabačov, and his wife Anežka — this cross, not the chapel, first marked the spot as a place of prayer, decades before the chapel itself was raised. Next to it grow two small-leaved lime trees, roughly a hundred years old and about 25 metres tall, which now frame the whole site and are as much a feature of the place as the chapel itself.

Are services still held here?

Mass was celebrated at the chapel regularly until the late 1940s. After a decades-long gap, the tradition was revived in 1982. Today a pilgrimage mass is held here once a year, on the Sunday before or after the feast of Saint Anne on 26 July. That is the one moment each year when the site draws a real crowd — the rest of the time it remains a quiet, out-of-the-way corner away from the main tourist routes.

How do you get to the chapel?

The chapel sits on the slope of Kozinec, a hill rising directly above Jilemnice, so reaching it doesn't require a long hike or any special preparation. It is freely accessible year-round, with no opening hours or entry fee. It makes a good short walking destination for anyone stopping in Jilemnice on the way into the Krkonoše mountains, especially combined with a walk up Kozinec itself, which offers views over the town and the surrounding hills.

Frequently asked questions

What is the chapel called in Czech? Kaple svaté Anny — literally the Chapel of Saint Anne.

In what architectural style was the chapel built? Art Nouveau, typical of the early 20th century.

When is the annual pilgrimage held at the chapel? On the Sunday before or after 26 July, the liturgical feast of Saint Anne.

Is there anything else worth seeing near the chapel? Yes — a stone cross from 1844 with an image of Saint Francis of Assisi, and two roughly hundred-year-old lime trees growing right next to it.

Is there an entry fee? No, the chapel is freely accessible at all times, with no fee or restrictions.