Chapel of Saint Anthony on Javorník

The Chapel of Saint Anthony stands on the summit of Javorník, a hill roughly 1009 metres high in the Šumava mountains, in the Prachatice District of the South Bohemian Region, close to the towns of Vimperk and Vacov. This small, round brick chapel is visible from much of the surrounding slopes and has long served hikers on Šumava's trails as a landmark and a resting point.

When was the chapel built, and why?

Construction took place between 1939 and 1940, and the chapel was consecrated that same year. This was shortly after the Munich Agreement, when a new border split Bohemia from the occupied Sudetenland — and the summit of Javorník sat right on that line. Czech patriots decided to mark the spot with a religious building, dedicating it to the saint whose name matched that of Antonín Švehla, an influential politician and statesman of the First Czechoslovak Republic (1873–1933). The chapel therefore combines a religious dedication with a tribute to a figure central to Czech statehood.

Who designed it, and who paid for it?

The design came from Professor Engineer František Fiala. Funding was provided by two Prague-based insurance companies: the Slavia insurance company and the Agricultural Mutual Insurance Company (Rolnická vzájemná pojišťovna). The involvement of insurance firms in financing a chapel shows how broad a cross-section of Czech society took part in marking the new state border at the time.

What does the inside of the chapel look like?

The building takes the form of a rotunda — a compact, circular structure typical of small votive chapels from that era. Inside, stained-glass votive windows depict the patron saints of the Czech lands together with the Virgin Mary. The choice of figures is not incidental: it reflects a tradition of Czech religious patriotism that ran through much of the sacred architecture built while the country's independence was under threat.

Who is the chapel dedicated to?

The chapel's patron is Saint Anthony of Padua, a Portuguese-born friar and theologian who spent most of his working life in Italy and France in the 13th century. Every year, on the first Sunday after his June feast day, Javorník hosts a well-known regional pilgrimage that draws both residents of nearby villages and hikers visiting the Šumava mountains.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the chapel located? On the summit of Javorník (about 1009 m above sea level) in the Šumava mountains, Prachatice District, South Bohemian Region, near Vimperk and Vacov.

When was the chapel built? Between 1939 and 1940, with consecration in 1940.

Why is the chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony? Its name honours Antonín Švehla, a Czechoslovak statesman, commemorated at the newly drawn border between Bohemia and the Sudetenland.

Who designed the chapel? Professor Engineer František Fiala; construction was funded by the Prague insurance companies Slavia and the Agricultural Mutual Insurance Company.

Are there any religious events held at the chapel? Yes, a traditional pilgrimage takes place there every year on the first Sunday after the June feast of Saint Anthony of Padua.