Kaple svatého Kříže u Apolináře

Kaple svatého Kříže u Apolináře (Chapel of the Holy Cross at Apolinář) is a small but richly decorated chapel tucked inside the building of the former Apolinář maternity hospital in Prague's New Town. The entrance is at Apolinářská 18, and the chapel itself occupies the first floor, directly above the clinic's entrance vestibule — easy to miss from the street, yet holding one of the more architecturally interesting sacred interiors in this part of the city.

Why does a maternity hospital have its own chapel?

The chapel was built in 1875 as an integral part of the entire Royal Provincial Maternity Hospital complex at Apolinář. The building's architect was Josef Hlávka, one of the most significant figures in 19th-century Czech architecture and philanthropy. Placing a chapel inside a maternity hospital was no accident — it was meant to serve both patients and staff, combining medical care and spiritual life within a single building.

What happened to it under communism?

Like many places of worship, the chapel shared the fate common to religious spaces after the communist takeover: in the 1950s it was closed and its interior was turned into storage space. It wasn't until 1997 that the chapel was restored and reopened to the public. That reopening was marked by the unveiling of a statue of Josef Hlávka, created by academic sculptor Josef Mařatka — a gift from the Hlávka Foundation to the institute, honoring the man behind the whole complex.

What does the interior look like?

The chapel is considered the most architecturally interesting part of the hospital building. Its defining feature is a stellar (star-ribbed) vault ceiling supported by a central column — an unusual solution for such a compact sacred space. The interior also includes a marble baptismal font, a marble credence altar, a neo-Gothic oak confessional, and a choir loft with an organ. The painted decoration, based on designs by Adolf Liebscher and Adolf Körber, dates from 1902 and adds a colorful, historicizing layer typical of the turn of the 20th century.

Can visitors go inside today?

Yes — the chapel is open to the public daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. That's a notably generous access window for a sacred space located inside an active hospital. The chapel is also used for special occasions, including a midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, drawing patients, staff, and neighborhood residents alike.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the chapel located? Inside the building of the former Apolinář maternity hospital in Prague 2 (New Town); the entrance is at Apolinářská 18, with the chapel on the first floor above the entrance vestibule.

Who designed the building housing the chapel? The entire 1875 hospital complex was designed by architect Josef Hlávka; the chapel's 1902 painted decoration follows designs by Adolf Liebscher and Adolf Körber.

Was the chapel ever closed? Yes. In the 1950s, after the communist takeover, it was closed and used as storage. It was restored and reopened to the public in 1997.

What are the visiting hours? The chapel is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with free access through the clinic's main entrance.