Chapel of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The Chapel of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross rises above Třebíč on the hill of Strážná hora, better known to locals under its nickname "Kostelíček" — one of the town's more unusual small sacred buildings, easy to overlook yet with a genuinely unusual construction history.

Where exactly does the chapel stand?

The chapel occupies the top of Strážná hora, a hill overlooking the historic core of Třebíč in the Vysočina region. The spot was not chosen at random: the chapel was raised precisely where a watchtower belonging to the town's medieval fortifications had previously stood. Because of that elevated position, the building has long served as a visual landmark visible from much of the town below.

Who actually built it, and when?

Construction took place in 1644–1645, carried out by Jan Fulík, a local Třebíč master builder who had no formal architectural training. That detail matters: despite working without academic schooling, Fulík produced a design whose forms anticipated the Baroque style by more than half a century before it took hold in Moravia more broadly. It's a rare case of a self-taught craftsman arriving, apparently on his own, at a spatial composition well ahead of its time.

What does the building actually look like?

The floor plan is cruciform — a cross shape that directly reflects the chapel's dedication. Visitors enter through an arched portal. The structure itself is compact: it measures 6.65 meters in length, with the arms of the cross spanning 4.3 and 3.05 meters, while the total height, from the ground up to the cross crowning the roof, reaches 17 meters. That combination of a small footprint and considerable height gives the chapel a slender, tower-like silhouette that stands out against the hillside from a distance.

Is there anything beneath the chapel?

Yes — cut directly into the rock beneath the building is a small crypt, and notably it repeats the same cross-shaped plan as the chapel above it. The builder carried the cruciform motif through both levels of the structure rather than treating the crypt as an afterthought.

Why does the chapel now carry a different name?

Although it was originally consecrated to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the building passed into private ownership toward the end of the 18th century. With the change of owner came a change of dedication: the chapel was reconsecrated to St. John of Nepomuk. Both names have persisted since then — the historical one tied to the Holy Cross, and the later one used after reconsecration — though locally the informal nickname "Kostelíček" is what people actually use.

Has the chapel been restored?

Yes. Restoration and repair work was carried out in 2007, which is what has kept the building in a condition suitable for viewing today.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors go inside the chapel? The chapel stands on Strážná hora and is clearly visible from outside; access to the interior depends on current arrangements made by whoever manages the building, so it's worth checking locally or with the Třebíč tourist information office before planning a visit.

Where does the nickname "Kostelíček" come from? It's a Czech colloquial term meaning roughly "little church," used by residents of Třebíč regardless of the chapel's official dedication.

Why was the chapel built on that particular hill? Because a watchtower that was part of the town's fortifications had previously stood there; once it was removed, the exposed hilltop became a natural site for a new sacred building.

How does the original dedication differ from the current one? The chapel was originally built as the Chapel of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, but after passing into private hands at the end of the 18th century it was reconsecrated to St. John of Nepomuk — which is why both names are still associated with the building today.