The devastated chapel would benefit from citizens' interest; the state does not want it

Photo: prokopak.webnode.cz

Prague - The uncertain fate lies ahead for the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows under the Barrandov rock. After the Prague 5 city council rejected its gratuitous takeover from the state, a new owner will need to be sought. The cultural monument, valued by experts primarily for its unique decoration, has been deteriorating for several years. Citizens could help by forming a society to save the chapel.
    The massive building, which is not large, has a circular floor plan with an apse and was originally used not as a chapel but as a gunpowder warehouse. It was built in 1742 by French soldiers during the construction of the road to Chuchle. After 1900, the chapel was restored and modified in the Beuron style by the Emmaus Benedictines. In the newly consecrated chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, the first mass was held in 1903.
    "The heritage values of the chapel lie primarily in its overall architectural and construction form - its unusual appearance is evidence of an interesting history and various purposes of use. The external and internal artistic decoration, created in the early 20th century in a unique Beuron style, is also valuable," stated Ladislav Bartoš from the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) to ČTK. The Beuron decoration is highly valued also because it has been preserved on only a few objects. Furthermore, the author of the mosaic decoration at the entrance was the prominent Czech mosaic artist Viktor Foerster.
    Currently, the chapel is heavily devastated; until recently it was freely accessible, and its interior was used by homeless people. For the last 20 years, the chapel has been the subject of property disputes. After the failed privatization and court proceedings in the 1990s, the ownership of the chapel "fell" to the Ministry of Finance (MF), i.e., to the state. According to Radek Ležatka from the MF, the ministry is trying to maintain the heritage values of the object. At the end of last year, the MF installed a grille at the entrance as a temporary measure against the homeless. Currently, it has ordered an assessment of the structural and technical condition of the chapel to prevent water leakage. The chapel should remain in the possession of the MF only for as long as necessary, as its re-privatization is being prepared, Ležatka added. The Prague 5 city council recently rejected the gratuitous transfer. "The object is in a very neglected state. If we were to become its owners, we would have to repair it and take care of it. We regret that, but that is not currently within the economic capabilities of the district," said councilor Michal Šesták (ČSSD) to ČTK.
    The chapel likely never had anything to do with church ownership - it was essentially a private devotion of the owners of the quarry, Bartoš recalled. Therefore, the object is not subject to church restitution.
    The civic association Society for the Protection of Prokop Valley and Dalej Valley is striving to save the chapel. So far unsuccessfully. "Without some activity from local citizens who would be interested in the matter, it is difficult to find a reasonable use for the object. Although its location by the bike path along the Vltava River may offer certain possibilities," added Bartoš from NPÚ.