Chapel of the Annunciation

Chapel of the Annunciation is a small Baroque chapel standing on Hrobek hill in the Plhov district of Náchod, at an altitude of around 372 metres. It's a modest but scenically placed religious building whose purpose has shifted several times over the centuries — from a place of worship to a gunpowder store and back again.

How to get there?

The chapel sits on a hilltop within Plhov, one of Náchod's districts, a short distance from the town centre. It's easiest to reach by car or on foot from the surrounding residential streets — Hrobek hill is visible from much of Plhov and the chapel itself acts as a local landmark. Because the hill isn't particularly high, the walk up doesn't take long, and the route passes through quiet, green surroundings on the edge of the built-up area.

What will you see?

The chapel has a simple, four-sided masonry structure with rusticated (reeded) corners, typical of early 18th-century Baroque architecture. On the western side there's a modest Baroque gable and a rectangular ground-floor entrance framed in sandstone, with a niche above it holding a statue of the Virgin Mary — a nod to the chapel's dedication. An octagonal belfry on a wooden frame rises from the roof ridge, topped with a spire and a ball bearing the year 1718, marking the building's construction date.

The chapel's history hasn't been a straight line. It was built between 1717 and 1718, but was already closed by 1786, part of a broader wave of church closures across the Habsburg monarchy at the time. In 1815 its interior was turned into a gunpowder magazine — a complete departure from its original religious purpose. It wasn't until 1834 that the building was restored and reopened as a chapel on 17 August of that year, returning it to religious use. More recently, in 2022, a branch of the Orthodox Church was established in Náchod, and the chapel building was made available for Orthodox services, adding a further, ecumenical dimension to the site.

For visitors, the chapel is above all an example of small-scale sacred architecture that survived the turbulent history of the region — from the Josephinist closures, through military use, to present-day religious life. The view from Hrobek over Plhov and Náchod is an added bonus, appreciated by anyone taking the walk up.

When to visit?

The chapel and the hill it stands on are accessible year-round. The walk up to Hrobek is most enjoyable in spring and summer, when the greenery around the hill is at its fullest and the views are best. Autumn adds extra charm thanks to the colour of the leaves, while in winter the paths leading to the top can be icy, so care is needed. Since the building is sometimes used for services, it's worth being discreet if a Mass or Orthodox service happens to be taking place during your visit.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the chapel located? On Hrobek hill in the Plhov district of Náchod, at an altitude of around 372 metres above sea level.

When was the chapel built? It was constructed between 1717 and 1718, as confirmed by the date 1718 on the ball topping the belfry's spire.

Is the chapel still in use? Yes. After a period of closure and use as a gunpowder store, it was restored and reopened in 1834, and since 2022 it has also been made available for Orthodox services.

Is the chapel a protected monument? Yes, it is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.