Kaple Olivetské hory

The Chapel of Mount of Olives is a small sacred structure standing next to the Church of St. James the Greater in the historic center of Jihlava, in the Czech Vysočina region. Although today it is a modest and heavily weathered building, its story reaches back to the late 17th century and involves a private burgher foundation along with a set of centuries-old sculptures.

Who founded the original chapel?

The original chapel was built at the end of the 17th century by Filip Jungmayer of Hof, a citizen of Jihlava. Inside, it housed statues of St. Peter, St. James, St. John, and Christ, dating from the end of the 15th century - considerably older than the chapel itself. These sculptures remained in place for more than two hundred years.

Why was a new chapel built in the early 20th century?

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the original 17th-century chapel was demolished. Between 1912 and 1913, a new structure was built in its place in a pseudo-Renaissance style. The historic Gothic statues were moved into the new chapel and displayed there until the 1960s. After suffering severe damage, they were relocated to the nearby Church of St. James the Greater, where they remain today.

What does the chapel look like architecturally?

The building erected in 1912-1913 has a rectangular floor plan and a gabled roof. It was constructed from stone and brick, with its corners reinforced by two-tiered stone pillars. Three sides of the chapel are open to the surrounding space, while the rear wall is bricked and decorated with a painting depicting Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. That painting has survived in very poor condition and is now badly damaged.

What is the chapel's current status?

The Chapel of Mount of Olives is listed as a cultural monument, even though the structure itself is significantly deteriorated. It stands as a small but historically valuable example of sacred architecture in the center of Jihlava, close to the monumental Church of St. James the Greater.

Where exactly is the chapel located?

The chapel stands in the historic center of Jihlava, next to the Church of St. James the Greater, at coordinates 49.3956 N, 15.59326 E.

Frequently asked questions

When was the current chapel built? The present structure dates from 1912-1913, replacing an earlier chapel from the end of the 17th century.

What did the statues originally placed in the chapel depict? They were Gothic sculptures of St. Peter, St. James, St. John, and Christ from the late 15th century, now kept in the Church of St. James the Greater in Jihlava.

Is the chapel in good condition? No - the structure is described as significantly deteriorated, and the painting on its rear wall, showing Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, is badly damaged.

Can visitors see the chapel? The chapel stands in a public space next to the Church of St. James the Greater and is visible from outside, since three of its sides are open.

Why is the chapel named after the "Mount of Olives"? The name refers to the biblical Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, depicted in the painting on the rear wall - a motif typical of chapels with this dedication across Central Europe.