Church of Saint John of Nepomuk

Church of Saint John of Nepomuk is a small Baroque chapel tucked away in a green, quiet corner of Prague-Dejvice, on the grounds of the former Jenerálka estate. Unlike most churches that draw visitors to central Prague, this one sits off the beaten path, on a low rocky rise beside the road leading out toward Horoměřice — a setting that feels more rural than urban.

Why was it built here?

The site's story begins with a plague outbreak in 1680. Land belonging at the time to Premonstratensian canons of the Jenerálka estate was turned into a burial ground for plague victims. In the early 1700s a small chapel with a statue of John of Nepomuk — a saint people turned to for protection in times of crisis — was raised next to the cemetery. A second wave of plague in 1713 led to the cemetery being enlarged and the wooden chapel replaced with the stone church that still stands today. Locals still call the spot "V trníčku," roughly "by the thornbush," a nod to the wild, secluded character of this part of Dejvice.

What does the building look like?

The church keeps the modest, single-nave layout typical of small rural Baroque churches of its era. The nave is roughly square in plan, and the chancel closes in a three-sided apse. A sacristy was added on the north side in 1822, the only significant architectural addition since construction. There is no grand facade or soaring tower here — the building's plain, unassuming form still echoes its original purpose as a cemetery chapel rather than a parish showpiece.

What happened to it over the centuries?

Regular services stopped after the Second World War, and for decades the church saw little liturgical use. It was only restored toward the end of the 1980s. Today it functions as a filial chapel rather than an active parish church, meaning it serves an occasional, supplementary role rather than hosting a daily rhythm of Masses.

Where exactly is it located?

The church stands in the northwestern part of Dejvice, in the area known as K vršíčku, on the former Jenerálka estate, within Prague's sixth municipal district. Its coordinates are roughly 50.107° N, 14.354° E — a leafy, semi-rural pocket of the city that locals know well but that rarely appears on standard sightseeing itineraries.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors go inside the church? Since the building now operates as a filial chapel rather than a full-time parish, interior access is often limited to occasional services or events — it's worth checking with the local parish community before planning a visit.

Why is it locally called "V trníčku"? The nickname reflects the wild, overgrown character of this secluded corner of the former Jenerálka estate, where the original plague cemetery and chapel were established.

How is this church different from other churches with the same dedication in the Czech Republic? Several churches across the country are dedicated to John of Nepomuk, including the far more famous pilgrimage church at Zelená hora near Žďár nad Sázavou. The Dejvice church described here is a completely separate, much more modest building with no architectural or historical connection to that site.

Is it worth combining a visit with a walk in the area? Yes — its location on the edge of Dejvice, away from the crowds of central Prague, makes it a natural stop on a quiet walk through the grounds of the former Jenerálka estate, appealing to visitors looking for lesser-known corners of the city.