Chapel of Saint Clemens

The Chapel of St. Clement sits against the northern wall of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Hradec Králové, right next to the town's landmark White Tower. It's a small Baroque building that today serves as a diocesan chapel, though the site itself has a history stretching back far earlier than the structure visible now.

What stood here before the chapel?

A church dedicated to St. Clement occupied this spot as early as the Middle Ages. The first written record of it dates to 1134, making it one of the older sacred sites in this part of Hradec Králové. Over the following centuries the building went through changes in both form and use, until the 18th century brought a decision to replace it with a grander structure in the architectural style of the time.

When was the current building built?

The Baroque chapel visitors see today was constructed between 1714 and 1717. It rose as part of the wider complex tied to the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, one of the most significant churches in Hradec Králové, and has been closely linked to it in liturgical function ever since.

Who is the chapel dedicated to?

The chapel is dedicated to St. Clement I, an early Christian pope and martyr regarded as the principal patron of the Diocese of Hradec Králové. That choice of patron was not incidental — it directly continued the dedication of the earlier medieval church on the same site, preserving a line of devotion stretching back several centuries.

Where exactly is it located?

The chapel stands at the heart of the historic cathedral complex in Hradec Králové, directly beside the White Tower, one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. Its coordinates are 50.2091111 N, 15.8308333 E. Because it sits right next to the tower and cathedral, visitors can easily fold it into a walk around the whole sacred complex in the city centre without any extra detour.

What else is worth knowing nearby?

The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, against which the chapel stands, is a Gothic church and one of the region's oldest and most important religious monuments, while the neighbouring White Tower is the cathedral's former bell tower, offering views over Hradec Králové. Together, the cathedral, the tower and the Chapel of St. Clement form a compact cluster on any walk through the old town, letting visitors trace different stages of local religious architecture — from medieval Gothic through Baroque to the site's present-day diocesan role.

Frequently asked questions

Can the chapel be visited separately from the cathedral? The chapel is part of the cathedral complex, so it's best visited together with the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit and the adjoining White Tower, as all three stand right next to each other.

Why is the chapel dedicated to St. Clement? It continues the dedication of an earlier church on the same site, first recorded in 1134; St. Clement I is the principal patron of the Diocese of Hradec Králové.

From what period does the current building date? The present Baroque chapel was built between 1714 and 1717, replacing an earlier structure that had stood on the same spot.

Where exactly does the chapel stand? On the northern side of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Hradec Králové, right next to the White Tower, at coordinates 50.2091111 N, 15.8308333 E.