Chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua (Brno-Pisárky)

The Chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua stands at the edge of Brno's Pisárky district, right next to Žabovřeská street, at the foot of Wilson Forest (Wilsonův les). This modest structure is the only surviving trace of Kamenný Mlýn, a small settlement that vanished from Brno's map in the second half of the 20th century.

What is the history behind the chapel?

A chapel has stood on this spot since 1617, when Kamenný Mlýn was an independent mill settlement on the outskirts of Brno. That original building was closed in 1787 and eventually torn down. The chapel seen today dates from 1884, built in Neo-Gothic style to a design by architect Alois Franz. A small settlement grew up around it during the 19th century, but in the second half of the 20th century the houses were demolished to make way for the new Žabovřeská street. The chapel alone survived, becoming the last physical reminder that Kamenný Mlýn ever existed.

Why is it worth a visit?

The chapel is listed as a protected cultural monument — a rare case of a sacred building outliving the complete redevelopment of its surroundings. By 2022 it had fallen into disrepair, but the rebuilding of Žabovřeská street as part of Brno's Great City Ring project brought a full restoration. The result was recognized regionally: the chapel won the Small Structures category in the South Moravian Region's competition for best-restored cultural monument of 2022.

How do you get there?

The chapel sits on the edge of Pisárky, close to the busy Žabovřeská road and the wooded slopes of Wilson Forest. It makes a natural stop for anyone combining a city walk with a trip into the forest, since the surrounding area is one of Brno's popular green recreation zones. Given its small scale, it's best visited as part of a longer walk through Pisárky or a hike into the nearby woods rather than as a standalone destination.

What should you know before visiting?

The chapel is a closed structure, viewed mainly from the outside — it functions as a small piece of religious heritage rather than an active parish church with regular services. Its main appeal lies in its story: it is the sole remnant of a settlement that stood here for decades before giving way to modern road infrastructure.

Frequently asked questions

When was the current chapel built? The Neo-Gothic building seen today was constructed in 1884 to a design by architect Alois Franz, on the site of an earlier chapel that had stood since 1617.

Why does the chapel matter to Brno's history? It is the only remaining element of the former Kamenný Mlýn settlement, which was demolished in the second half of the 20th century to build Žabovřeská street.

Can you go inside the chapel? The building is mainly viewed from the outside and serves as a heritage landmark rather than an active parish church with regular services.

What happened to it in recent years? In 2022 it underwent a complete restoration during the rebuilding of Žabovřeská street into Brno's Great City Ring, and it won a regional award for best-restored small heritage structure in the South Moravian Region.