Loreto chapel in Brno

The Loreto Chapel in Brno is a Baroque shrine built into the Minorite complex of the Church of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, right in the historic centre of the city. It belongs to a distinctive family of European chapels that reproduce the Holy House of Loreto in Italy — the dwelling traditionally believed to have been the home of the Holy Family in Nazareth before it was miraculously transported to Italy. Copies like this one were built across the continent from the 16th to the 18th century as an expression of Baroque Marian devotion, and Brno's version is one of the more elaborate examples in Central Europe.

Who built the chapel?

The Baroque reshaping of the whole complex is the work of Moritz Grimm, one of the leading architects working in Brno in the first half of the 18th century. Grimm built the Loreto Chapel as an imitation of the Holy Family's house, and later directed the construction of a new church raised over it, incorporating the Holy Stairs alongside the chapel itself. A large dome was raised above the Holy House, its interior painted with a fresco by František Řehoř Eckstein celebrating the Virgin Mary as Queen of Angels. The entrance portal is flanked by a pair of angel figures and topped with a relief depicting the Transfer of the Holy House, with Mary at the centre of the scene. The chapel still holds its original organ, dating to 1732.

What is there to see inside?

Alongside the chapel itself, the main draw is the Holy Stairs — a three-flight staircase of 28 steps modelled on the Scala Santa in Rome, which in turn commemorates the steps Christ climbed in Pilate's palace in Jerusalem before his condemnation. Pilgrims traditionally ascend them on their knees, pausing at stations recalling Christ's suffering, up to an Ecce Homo group at the top. This ritual gives the site a contemplative atmosphere that sets it apart from a typical sightseeing stop in Brno. It's also worth taking time to look at the stucco and painted decoration of the dome and at the deliberately plain, stone-built interior of the Holy House, designed to echo the austere original in Italy.

How to get there and when to visit?

The chapel sits in Brno's historic centre next to the Church of St. John, within easy walking distance of Freedom Square and the other main landmarks of the old town, so there's rarely a need for anything beyond a short walk from the centre. As an active place of worship, it's best visited during daytime hours outside of services, when the interior and the Holy Stairs can be viewed without disruption. The site is compact and intimate, so it rewards a slower, unhurried visit — especially for anyone planning to climb the stairs themselves.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Loreto Chapel in Brno? It's a Baroque replica of the Holy House of Loreto in Italy, the dwelling traditionally identified as the home of the Holy Family, recreated in Brno as a pilgrimage destination.

Who designed the chapel? The Baroque rebuilding of the complex, including the Loreto Chapel and the Holy Stairs, was carried out by architect Moritz Grimm in the 1720s.

What are the Holy Stairs next to the chapel? A three-flight staircase of 28 steps modelled on Rome's Scala Santa, recalling the stairs Christ climbed in Pilate's palace; pilgrims traditionally climb them on their knees.

Are any original furnishings preserved in the chapel? Yes — the chapel still has its original 1732 organ and 18th-century dome frescoes painted by František Řehoř Eckstein.