Saint Rosalia chapel in Arnultovice

The Saint Rosalia chapel in Arnultovice is a small Baroque chapel standing at the junction of today's Generála Svobody and Dobrovského streets in Arnultovice, a district of Nový Bor in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic, incorporated into the town in 1942. The chapel is listed as a Czech cultural monument (kulturní památka) and is one of the smaller but distinctive sacred landmarks of this glassmaking region near the German border.

When was the chapel built?

The chapel was built in 1763, during the late Baroque period that shaped much of the sacred architecture across northern Bohemia at the time. Its floor plan is almost square, a layout common among wayside and cemetery chapels of that era in the region.

What does the exterior look like?

The façade is articulated with pilasters supporting a curved, scrolled gable. Within the gable sits a niche holding a statue of the Virgin Mary — a motif typical of chapels erected as votive offerings or places of prayer under the protection of patron saints.

What is inside the chapel?

The interior is covered by a flat ceiling. Niches carved into the side walls hold Baroque statues of Saint John of Nepomuk and Saint Anthony of Padua. Both are recurring figures in the Baroque religious art of the region: John of Nepomuk as a protector of good reputation and against floods, and Anthony of Padua as an intercessor for lost causes and patron of the poor.

Why is the chapel dedicated to Saint Rosalia?

Saint Rosalia was widely invoked from the medieval and early modern periods onward as a patron saint against plague and epidemics, and chapels bearing her name were often built as votive or intercessory offerings during times of disease. The dedication of the Arnultovice chapel fits this broader tradition, although surviving records do not specify the exact circumstances of its founding.

Where exactly is the chapel located?

The chapel stands at the intersection of Generála Svobody and Dobrovského streets in Arnultovice, now part of Nový Bor. Its approximate coordinates are 50.7686 N, 14.5473 E. Arnultovice lies in the Česká Lípa district of the Liberec Region, an area historically known for glassmaking and dotted with small sacred monuments along former trade routes.

Is the chapel worth visiting from Nový Bor?

The Saint Rosalia chapel is a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in the region's Baroque religious architecture and looking to pair a visit to Nový Bor — best known for its glassmaking tradition — with a smaller, quieter monument in one of its districts. Given its modest size, seeing it takes only a few minutes and fits well into a walk through Arnultovice.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Saint Rosalia chapel in Arnultovice built? In 1763, in the late Baroque style.

What statues are inside the chapel? The side-wall niches hold Baroque statues of Saint John of Nepomuk and Saint Anthony of Padua, while the façade niche holds a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Is the chapel a protected monument? Yes, it is listed on the Czech register of cultural monuments (kulturní památka).

Where is Arnultovice located? It is a district of Nový Bor in the Liberec Region, incorporated into the town in 1942, within the Česká Lípa district.