Kaple svatého Maxmiliána

The Chapel of St. Maximilian stands in the cemetery of Svatý Jan pod Skalou, a small village in the Bohemian Karst best known for its former Benedictine monastery. This is a separate, neo-Gothic burial building erected in the mid-19th century - it should not be confused with either the monastery church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist or the nearby Chapel of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. All three stand close together, yet each has its own history and purpose.

Why is there a chapel in the village cemetery?

The chapel was commissioned by Dr. Maxmilián Berger, the then-owner of the Svatý Jan pod Skalou estate, as a family tomb for the Berger family. Construction was carried out by Bernard Grueber, a builder from Munich, while the stonework was directed by Prague stonecutters named Jedlička. The building has stood since 1849, and its dedication to St. Maximilian traces directly back to the founder's own name.

What does the chapel look like?

The structure is built in neo-Gothic style, with stone decoration matched throughout the building. The entrance is marked by a Gothic portico topped with a cross, which sets the chapel apart at a glance from the plainer cemetery architecture typical of the region. Inside, the building is divided into two levels with distinct functions: the upper, more richly decorated part served religious purposes, while the lower level functioned as the family's burial crypt. This arrangement - a chapel built directly over a crypt - was a common solution for private family tombs erected in this part of Bohemia during that period.

Who owns it today, and can visitors go inside?

The chapel now belongs to the municipality. It is occasionally used for local cultural events and exhibitions, but on an ordinary day it remains closed to visitors. That marks a clear contrast with the neighboring monastery church, which, as an active place of worship, is accessible far more often. Visitors should therefore treat St. Maximilian's Chapel as a stop along a walk through the cemetery and its surroundings rather than a site with regular opening hours.

Where exactly is it located?

The chapel stands within the local cemetery grounds, right next to the built-up area of Svatý Jan pod Skalou, a few hundred meters from the former monastery and the church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Its coordinates are 49.9698997, 14.1303858. The village itself sits in a scenic gorge cut by the Kačák stream, at the heart of the Bohemian Karst, which makes walking between the different sacred sites here - the monastery, the Chapel of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and St. Maximilian's Chapel - a natural part of a longer countryside outing.

Frequently asked questions

How does St. Maximilian's Chapel differ from the monastery church in Svatý Jan pod Skalou? They are two separate buildings. The church belongs to the former Benedictine monastery and serves a parish function, while St. Maximilian's Chapel is a 19th-century family tomb standing in the village cemetery, some distance from the monastery buildings.

Who is buried in the chapel? It was built as a burial place for the Berger family, commissioned by Dr. Maxmilián Berger, who owned the local estate at the time.

Can the chapel be visited? It is not regularly open to tourists. It is mainly opened for cultural events and exhibitions organized by the municipality, which now owns the building.

In what style was the chapel built, and who designed it? It was built in neo-Gothic style, with a characteristic portico and cross above the entrance. Construction was led by the Munich-based builder Bernard Grueber, while the stonework was executed by the Prague stonecutters Jedlička.