Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre in Votice

The Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre in Votice is a small but remarkable Baroque structure standing on the grounds of a former cemetery next to the old Franciscan monastery in Votice, in the Benešov District of Central Bohemia. Unlike many similarly named chapels across the Czech lands, this one was built as a deliberate, measured copy of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem rather than a loose interpretation of the theme.

How to get there?

Votice lies in Central Bohemia, roughly halfway between Prague and Tábor, close to the main route running further south. The town is easiest to reach by car or regional train, with the station sitting close to the center. The chapel itself stands right by the former cemetery, next to the old Franciscan monastery buildings, so once in Votice it's only a short walk away.

Why is this chapel unusual?

The idea dates back to around 1658, when Marie Františka, sister of Count Ferdinand František of Vrtba, the owner of the surrounding estate, decided the chapel should faithfully reproduce its Jerusalem model. To achieve that, she sent two Franciscan friars, Innocenc Maryška and Elevat Wiener, on a journey to Jerusalem to record exact sketches and measurements of the Holy Sepulchre. Actual construction did not begin until 1685, nearly three decades after that journey, and the finished chapel was consecrated on April 13, 1689, by the Sedlčany dean Jiří Konrád Genelius.

What will you see on site?

The chapel is an elongated stone structure built of granite blocks, topped with a hexagonal cupola resting on twelve columns decorated with leaf-carved capitals — a level of architectural detail unusual for a building of this size in the region. Inside, it is divided into two spaces: a main chamber just under 3.6 meters high and roughly 3 by 3.15 meters in floor area, and a narrow burial chamber reached through a deliberately low, tight passage — only 1.47 meters high and 0.82 meters wide — a layout meant to echo the proportions of the Jerusalem original. The walls were once covered with frescoes in warm, pinkish tones imitating marble; restoration work carried out in 1994–1996 recovered roughly half of that original decoration. The chapel also holds 18th-century religious statuary and other devotional objects.

How has the monument been preserved?

The chapel, together with its surrounding wall, has been protected as a Czech cultural monument since 1965. Over the centuries it has undergone several rounds of restoration, most notably in 1852, during the 1960s and 1970s, again in 1994–1996, and most recently between 2018 and 2020. Thanks to this ongoing care, the building has survived in a condition that still lets visitors appreciate both its architecture and the original intent behind its design.

When to visit?

As an outdoor monument, the chapel is best visited from spring through early autumn, when longer days and milder weather make it pleasant to explore the grounds of the former cemetery at a relaxed pace. Combining the visit with a walk around Votice itself and the adjoining former Franciscan monastery helps place the chapel in its historical context.

Frequently asked questions

What makes the chapel in Votice special? It was built as a faithful architectural copy of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, based on sketches and measurements brought back by Franciscan friars sent there specifically for that purpose.

Who commissioned the chapel, and when was it built? Marie Františka, sister of Count Ferdinand František of Vrtba, initiated the project around 1658; construction began in 1685 and the chapel was consecrated in 1689.

What can you see inside? A main chamber and a narrow burial chamber that mirrors the layout of the Jerusalem original, remnants of restored frescoes, and 18th-century religious statuary.

Is the chapel a protected heritage site? Yes — together with its surrounding wall, it has been listed as a Czech cultural monument since 1965 and has been restored several times, most recently between 2018 and 2020.