Chapel of the Holy Cross and Saint Mary

The Chapel of the Holy Cross and Saint Mary is a small neo-Gothic chapel attached to the south façade of the bishop's residence on Petrov hill in Brno. Although it stands just a few dozen metres from the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, it is an entirely separate structure — built as the bishop's private chapel, not as part of the cathedral complex.

When was it built, and for whom?

Construction ran from 1887 to 1888, commissioned by Bishop František Saleský Bauer, who had taken office in Brno in 1882. The design came from August Prokop, then director of the School of Applied Arts, while the construction itself was carried out by Eduard Exner. From the outset the chapel was meant purely for the bishop and the residents of the palace — never as a public place of worship, which explains its modest, almost domestic placement within the building's structure.

What makes the interior distinctive?

The most recognisable feature is the polygonal termination of the chancel, formed by five sides of an octagon — a hallmark of neo-Gothic design vocabulary. Instead of a conventional altarpiece, the space is lit by five stained-glass windows: the central one depicts Christ on the Cross, while the scene above the entrance shows the Annunciation to Mary. A team of period craftsmen worked on the decoration: the wall paintings were done by Franz X. Schönbrunner, the stonework by the workshop once run by Adolf Loos Sr. (father of the celebrated architect Adolf Loos), and the stained glass by Benedikt Škarda together with a Tyrolean workshop specialising in glass painting.

Did the chapel serve any purpose beyond worship?

Before 1990, rooms adjoining the chapel housed a kitchen run by Franciscan sisters, who prepared meals for as many as 50 people — a practical, everyday part of the bishop's residence that no longer functions in that form today.

What survived the war, and what had to be rebuilt?

The chapel did not escape the Second World War: an air raid on Brno on 20 November 1944 damaged it, mainly its windows. Repairs — focused chiefly on the shattered stained glass — were only completed in 1950. A further renovation followed in 1975, and the chapel took on its present appearance after conservation work in the 1990s.

Can visitors go inside?

Because the chapel remains an integral part of the bishop's residence, it is not freely open to the public — it stays a private space rather than a tourist attraction with regular opening hours. The best view of its neo-Gothic silhouette, standing prominently on the old town ramparts, is from Denis Gardens (Denisovy sady), a popular vantage point right next to Petrov hill.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chapel of the Holy Cross part of the Petrov cathedral? No. It is a separate building attached to the bishop's residence, despite standing right next to the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul.

Can you go inside the chapel? No — it is part of the private bishop's residence and is not open to the public.

Where is the best place to view it from? From Denis Gardens (Denisovy sady), which offer a clear view of its distinctive shape along the old town walls.

Who designed the chapel? August Prokop, then director of Brno's School of Applied Arts, with construction carried out by Eduard Exner.

What architectural style is it built in? Neo-Gothic, visible in features such as the polygonal chancel and the window design.