Olivet Chapel, Late Baroque chapel in Hostinné, Czech Republic

Olivet Chapel is a small prayer house in Hostinné with stone walls and traditional religious motifs typical of regional ecclesiastical buildings. The structure shows simple architectural features common to Czech chapels built over several centuries.

František Matzak of Ottenburg funded the chapel, which Jan Finger, a citizen of Hostinné, had built in 1777. In the 19th century the interior fresco was repainted, and a full reconstruction between 2001 and 2003 uncovered and restored the original wall painting.

The chapel takes its name from the Mount of Olives scene inside: five life-size sandstone figures of the praying Christ, an angel holding a cross and the cup of bitterness, and three sleeping apostles, probably carved by Martin Jelínek the Younger. A wall fresco shows Jerusalem, Judas and soldiers leading the arrested Christ out of the city gate.

The chapel stands on a raised paved platform reached by steps and enclosed by a 120 cm balustrade topped with two angel statues, so allow for uneven footing. It is a late-Baroque building from 1777; the sandstone figures inside are life-size and close to the walls, so keep a respectful distance.

The German inscription above the entrance is often missed by visitors, who focus on the interior sculptures. The sandstone figures of the praying Christ, an angel holding a cross and chalice, and three sleeping apostles are attributed to Martin Jelínek the Younger. A Baroque fresco on the wall shows Judas and soldiers leading the arrested Christ out of Jerusalem's gates.