Chapel of the Coronation of Virgin Mary, Castle chapel in Křivoklát, Czech Republic

The Chapel of the Coronation of Virgin Mary occupies the first floor of Křivoklát Castle's southern wing, oriented east toward the great tower and linked on the west to the Knights' Hall. Its interior measures 13 by 6 metres, with three rectangular bays and a polygonal presbytery under a net vault ending in a star vault. Three 13th-century corner shafts survive in the presbytery.

The chapel replaced an early Gothic Wenceslas chapel from the 13th century. Its late Gothic form dates from the reign of Vladislav II Jagiellon, when Hans Spiess of Frankfurt led a major reconstruction; it was consecrated in 1522. Fires in 1597, 1643 and 1826 damaged the castle, and restoration in the late Gothic spirit followed, including work by Josef Mocker and Humbert Walcher in 1908–1909.

Twelve wooden apostle figures and four patron saints of the land, carved in the 16th century, stand on consoles along the presbytery walls, each console a different shape ending in a carved mascaron. Above them hang wooden canopies of varied late Gothic form, and the figures are arranged in pairs from the main entrance.

The chapel sits in the first floor of the southern wing, the upper castle, oriented east toward the great tower and linked on the west to the Knights' Hall. Reaching it means joining a guided tour of Křivoklát Castle, so time your visit to the castle's opening hours. Look up in the vestibule for the star vault and the 1909 oriel by Humbert Walcher.

The chapel's net vault rests on three round keystones, and its ribs spring from consoles six metres up; one of the four consoles is basket-shaped and carved with pierced naturalistic foliage. In the presbytery stand twelve wooden apostle figures and four patron saints from the 16th century, each on a differently shaped console ending in a carved mascaron.