Kaple svatého Antonína (Perná)

The Chapel of Saint Anthony is an atmospheric ruin of a former pilgrimage chapel, tucked into the limestone hills above the village of Perná in South Moravia. Only a stone wall roughly 28 meters long and up to 6 meters high remains today, yet the site still draws hikers and history lovers exploring the Pavlov Hills.

Why was the chapel built?

The chapel was raised in 1652 at the initiative of residents from three neighboring villages — Perná, Klentnice, and Mušov. It was built as an act of thanksgiving for an unusually abundant grape harvest. In a region long known for winemaking, such a gesture of gratitude toward a patron saint carried real weight for the local community, and the chapel soon became a destination for pilgrims from the surrounding area.

Who looked after the chapel?

Between 1720 and 1722, a hermit lived at the site, responsible for its upkeep and for ringing its bell — a task that signaled prayer times or warned nearby villagers of danger. Entrusting isolated chapels to hermits was a common arrangement in Central European villages of that era, and this remote hilltop site fit the pattern well.

Why did the chapel stop being used?

The chapel's fate changed once a new church was completed in nearby Klentnice: it was closed in 1783 as religious services shifted to the new building. The final blow came three years later, in 1786, when Emperor Joseph II, in the course of his sweeping church reforms that shut down many smaller religious sites across the Habsburg monarchy, ordered the chapel closed for good. From that point on, the structure began to fall into ruin.

What happened to the statue of Saint Anthony?

The chapel's patron saint statue did not disappear along with the building. In 1923 it was moved to the parish church in Perná, where it can still be seen today. So while the chapel itself became a ruin, the veneration of Saint Anthony tied to this hillside site lives on among local residents.

Where exactly is the ruin located?

The chapel stands on the western slope of the Kotel limestone ridge, part of the main crest of the Pavlov Hills, within the Děvín-Kotel Gorge Nature Reserve. This rugged, karst landscape gives the site a distinctive character, blending historical interest with the wild limestone scenery typical of the ridge.

Is it worth visiting?

For anyone interested in regional history or hiking the Pavlov Hills, the ruined Chapel of Saint Anthony makes for a rewarding stop. Although only fragments of the walls survive, the site tells a vivid story of gratitude, hermit life, and the religious upheavals of the Josephine reforms, all while offering views characteristic of the South Moravian borderland landscape.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Chapel of Saint Anthony in Perná built? It was built in 1652 as a votive offering of thanks for an abundant grape harvest.

Why is the chapel now a ruin? It was closed in 1783 after a new church opened in Klentnice, and in 1786 Emperor Joseph II ordered it permanently shut as part of his church reforms.

Where did the statue of Saint Anthony from the chapel end up? In 1923 it was moved to the parish church in Perná, where it remains today.

Where exactly does the ruin stand? On the western slope of the Kotel ridge in the Pavlov Hills, within the Děvín-Kotel Gorge Nature Reserve, near the village of Perná.