Chapel of Saint Mary of Altötting

The Chapel of Our Lady of Altötting stands in Prague's Břevnov district, in a valley between the former estates of Kajetánka and Petynka. This small Baroque building has carried a direct link to the Bavarian pilgrimage site of Altötting since the day it was built — it was raised as a faithful copy of the chapel there.

Where did the chapel come from?

Construction was finished in 1665, or at the latest in 1666. The founder was Bernard Ignác of Martinice, who donated the chapel together with the surrounding land and other buildings to the Theatine order. The design came from architect J. Goetzinger, who arrived from the Austrian town of St. Florian. Choosing Altötting as the model was no accident: the Bavarian chapel has for centuries ranked among the most important Marian shrines in this part of Europe, and the Prague copy was meant to give local believers a nearby focus for that same devotion.

What does the interior hold?

The chapel originally housed four altars. The main one was dedicated to St. Cajetan, patron of the Theatine order that took charge of the building. The other three honored St. Joseph, St. Joachim, and St. Anne. This choice of patrons tied the religious order's identity to the site's Marian, family character — Joachim and Anne being, in Christian tradition, the parents of Mary. Below floor level lies a crypt dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, adding a more intimate layer of devotion to the whole structure.

How is the chapel tied to its surroundings?

The name of the valley where the chapel stands is no coincidence. The neighboring Kajetánka estate took its name from St. Cajetan, patron of the chapel's main altar — a clear sign of how closely this small sacred building grew into the topography and place names of Břevnov. The other neighboring estate, Petynka, still lends its name to the green spaces around the area today.

Practical information

The chapel is located in Prague 6, in the Břevnov district, at coordinates 50.0876444, 14.375538. It's a good stop for a quiet walk through the former Kajetánka and Petynka estates, which today form the green parkland surrounding this historic place of worship.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Chapel of Our Lady of Altötting? It's a Baroque chapel in Prague's Břevnov district, built as a copy of the Bavarian chapel in Altötting, one of Central Europe's major Marian shrines.

When was the chapel built? It was completed in 1665 or 1666, founded by Bernard Ignác of Martinice, who handed it over to the Theatine order.

Who designed the chapel? The design came from architect J. Goetzinger, who came from the Austrian town of St. Florian.

Which saints are the altars inside dedicated to? The four altars were dedicated to St. Cajetan, St. Joseph, St. Joachim, and St. Anne, with an altar to Our Lady of Sorrows in the crypt below.

Where exactly is the chapel located? In Prague's Břevnov district, in the valley between the former Kajetánka and Petynka estates, at coordinates 50.0876444, 14.375538.