Chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk

The Chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk is a small roadside chapel standing in the village of Ráby, at the foot of Kunětická hora hill, north of Pardubice in eastern Bohemia, Czech Republic. Modest in scale, it is more of a wayside shrine than a church, yet it carries one of the best-known local legends in the area.

Who built the chapel in Ráby?

Local tradition holds that the chapel was erected before 1820 on the initiative of a forester named Neuman (also recorded as Neumann), who is said to have worked in the woods belonging to the Kunětice estate. Villagers remembered him as a quick-tempered, hot-headed man — a trait that runs through both surviving versions of the story behind the chapel's founding.

What legend surrounds this chapel?

According to local lore, Neuman killed his own brother in a fit of anger. The two versions of the tale differ in the details of the tragedy. One says it happened by accident during a hunt, when the forester fired his gun without recognizing his brother in the undergrowth. The other moves the events to a noble feast held at a nearby hunting lodge, where the brother was serving as steward and accidentally spilled food or drink, triggering a fatal reaction from the forester. In both variants, Neuman was overcome by grief and remorse after his brother's death and had the chapel built as an act of penance and a lasting expression of sorrow.

Why was Saint John of Nepomuk chosen as patron?

The choice of patron was no accident. Saint John of Nepomuk, a 14th-century Bohemian priest, was among the most widely venerated saints in the Czech lands at the time, honored as the protector of confession and of travelers. Small chapels and statues dedicated to him were commonly raised along roads, at bridges, and at crossroads, frequently as an act of penance for sin or in gratitude for deliverance from danger. The forester's foundation in Ráby fits squarely into this well-documented regional custom.

Where exactly does the chapel stand?

The chapel stands directly in the village of Ráby, on the road connecting Kunětická hora with the neighboring village of Brozany. Ráby lies right next to Kunětická hora, a hill best known for the Gothic castle crowning its summit, which makes the area a popular day-trip destination from nearby Pardubice.

Is it worth a stop on a visit to Kunětická hora?

The chapel itself is not the main draw of the region — that role belongs to the castle at the top of the hill — but for anyone exploring the surroundings on foot or by bike, it offers an interesting waypoint and a tangible trace of the village's history and folk memory.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk in Ráby located? In the village of Ráby, on the road leading from Kunětická hora to the village of Brozany, north of Pardubice.

When was the chapel built? Local tradition dates it to before 1820.

Who founded the chapel? A local forester named Neuman (Neumann), who according to legend built it as penance after killing his own brother.

What legend is connected to this place? The story tells of a forester who, in a fit of anger, killed his brother — either by an accidental shot during a hunt or during an incident at a noble feast — and built the chapel out of remorse.

To whom is the chapel dedicated? To Saint John of Nepomuk, one of the most venerated saints in the Czech lands.