Religious buidings

Chapel of Saint Anne (Schwarz Chapel)

Late Baroque chapel

Structure type: Late Baroque chapel
Location: On Zámecký vrch (Castle Hill) above the centre of Karlovy Vary
'Period of construction: 18th century
Architect: Unknown
Official opening: 18th century
Accessibility: Not accessible

How to get there

Route 1:        A number of routes lead to the Chapel of Saint Anne in the residential district of Westend. The shortest route is approximately 550 metres long and it will take you from the Hot Spring in the spa centre up Zámecký vrch (Castle Hill) Street, along the Anglican Church of Saint Lucas and to the crossroads with Sovova stezka (Sova's Path).   

Route 2:        If you decide for the second route, take Bus No. 4 from "Tržnice" (Market) city bus terminal to the "U Jezírka" (By the Pond) stop in the vicinity of Malé Versailles (Small Versailles) and from there, walk 350 metres up Petr Veliký (Peter the Great) Street directly to the chapel.

History of the structure

The construction of the late Baroque Chapel of Saint Anne was funded by Kašpar Schwarz, a burgher of Karlovy Vary, in the 18th century. It was erected at an important crossroads at the highest point of Zámecký vrch (Castle Hill). The chapel, which was then known as the Schwarz Chapel, often appears on the drawings of famous German poet and writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. With the building of the Anglican Church of Saint Lucas in its vicinity and the emerging exclusive residential district of Westend in the second half of the 19th century, the chapel lost its dominant position and was slowly forgotten.

After its last reconstruction in 2007, the chapel was dedicated to Saint Anne on the 18th of October of the same year. In the interior of this petite, yet magnificent Baroque sacral structure, visitors may admire the statuette of Saint Anne with the Virgin Mary. The beautifully renovated chapel situated at the beginning of Sovova stezka (Sova's Path) has become a frequent starting point of walks in the surrounding spa woods.

 

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