Betlémská kaple, Cubist chapel in Žižkov, Czech Republic.
Betlémská kaple is a Cubist chapel of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, set inside a block of apartment buildings on Prokopova street in Žižkov. The structure combines Cubist forms with late Art Nouveau elements, and its concrete foundation slab had to be laid because the site was a sand pit filled with rubble from Prague's urban clearance.
The congregation bought a house on Prokopova street in 1911 and commissioned builder Matěj Blecha in 1912; the design is most likely by Emil Králíček, then working in Blecha's studio. Construction was approved on 21 June 1913 and the chapel opened on 29 June 1914, costing 46,000 Austro-Hungarian crowns. A concrete foundation slab was laid because the site was a filled sand pit.
The chapel is named after the Bethlehem Chapel in Prague's Old Town, though the Žižkov congregation built its own. In its early years the space was used by the rock band The Plastic People of the Universe; today it also serves as a concert hall and charity centre. A memorial plaque at the entrance honours the Fafek family, members of the congregation executed in Mauthausen in 1942.
The chapel sits within a residential building, so visitors should be respectful when entering through the courtyard area. Contacting the building administration beforehand helps ensure access and clarifies visiting conditions.
The chapel is tucked away inside a regular apartment courtyard and easily goes unnoticed despite being an important example of Prague's modern architectural heritage. This hidden placement makes finding it a genuine discovery for those who wander through neighborhood backstreets.
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