The Chapel of the Holy Cross is one of the oldest Romanesque rotundas preserved in Prague. The first mention of it comes from 1365, however, the temple dates back to the end of the 11th century. This is confirmed by archaeological finds, including original brick floors discovered during the renovation, remains of tombstones from the 13th century and the denarius of Prince Jaromir from 1012. Inside they have preserved remains of 14th-century Gothic paintings.
According to legend, the location of the temple and its name come from a tragic event from the distant past, when there was a pond in the place of today's church. A girl's body was thrown into the pond, who was crucified for secretly accepting Christianity against the will of her parents. At night after the murder, the cross appeared on the surface of the pond. This was read as a sign of God and a church was built here.
In 1625, the rotunda became the property of the Dominican Order, and in 1784 it was deprived of sacred functions and - like other Prague rotundas - was converted into a warehouse. In the nineteenth century, it was intended for demolition, which eventually did not occur, and in 1862-1865 the building was restored. Currently, masses of the Old Catholic church are held here in the chapel.
Attractions inside
