Chapel of the Finding of the Holy Cross

The Chapel of the Finding of the Holy Cross stands on the village green of Malá Dobrá, a part of Velká Dobrá in the Kladno district of Central Bohemia, just a short drive west of Kladno itself. This small, classicist chapel has served as the spiritual heart of the hamlet for more than two centuries.

What is the history behind the chapel?

The first chapel on this spot was built in 1765, back when Malá Dobrá was still an independent village. It took the form of an open chapel erected on the green beside the village pond and was dedicated to the Finding of the Holy Cross. The building was repaired in 1804, but by 1815 it had deteriorated to the point of demolition. A new chapel, carrying the same dedication, was built in its place between 1816 and 1817 and consecrated on 12 October 1817 - the structure that still stands today.

What can you see inside and outside?

Architecturally the chapel is a simple, single-nave building with a narrow presbytery and sacristy, separated by a broken triumphal arch. Inside, the altar dates partly from the 17th century and carries Baroque features, making it the oldest and most valuable piece of the chapel's furnishings. The modest classicist exterior fits naturally into the surrounding village square, and together with the adjacent pond it forms one of the most recognisable corners of Malá Dobrá.

How do you get there?

The chapel sits right on the village green in the centre of Malá Dobrá, next to the pond, so it is impossible to miss while walking through the settlement. Velká Dobrá borders Kladno directly, and Prague lies roughly 30 kilometres further along the same route, making the chapel an easy stop for anyone exploring the smaller monuments of the Kladno region on foot or by bike.

When is the best time to visit?

The chapel remains an active place of worship: Mass is celebrated here on the first Sunday of every month at 11:00. That is the most reliable way to see the interior, since the building is otherwise usually kept closed. The exterior and the surrounding green can be visited year-round, and the quiet village setting makes it a pleasant stop in any season, particularly outside the busier summer weekends around Kladno.

Frequently asked questions

What is the chapel dedicated to? It is dedicated to the Finding of the Holy Cross, a feast in the Catholic tradition commemorating the discovery of the relic of the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

Is the current building the original 18th-century chapel? No. The original 1765 chapel was demolished in 1815, and the present building was constructed in 1816-1817 and consecrated in 1817.

Can visitors go inside the chapel? The interior is accessible mainly during Mass, held on the first Sunday of each month at 11:00.

Where exactly is the chapel located? It stands on the village green in Malá Dobrá, a part of Velká Dobrá, in the Kladno district of Central Bohemia.