Prague
Prague
+ Prague
Sights
* Anežský Klášter (St Agnes Convent)
* Bertramka (Mozart Museum)
* Betlémská Kaple (Bethlehem Chapel)
* Bílá Hora (White Mountain)
* Břevnovský Klášter (Břevnov Monastery)
* Celetná
* Černínský Palác (Černín Palace)
* Chrám Panny Marie Sněžné (Our Lady of the Snows)
* Dům Pánů Z Kunštátu A Poděbrad (House of the Lords Kunstat and Podebrad)
* Dům U Černé Matky Boží (House of the Black Madonna)
* Dům U Kamennáho Zvonu (House at the Stone Bell)
* Dvořáka Antonína Muzeum (Dvorak Museum)
* Expozice Franze Kafky (Franz Kafka Exhibition)
* Hradčanské Náměstí (Hradčany Square)
* Karlův Most (Charles Bridge)
* Karolinum
* Klášter Svatého Jiří (St George's Convent and Basilica)
* Klausová Synagóga (Klausen Synagogue)
* Klementinum
* Kostel Panny Marie Před Týnem (Church of Our Lady Before Týn)
* Kostel Svatého Cyrila A Metodéje (Church of SS Cyril and Methodius)
* Kostel Panny Marie Vítězné (Our Lady Victorious)
* Kostel Svatého Jakuba (St James's Church)
* Kostel Svatého Mikuláše (St Nicholas's Church)
* Kostel Svatého Tomáše (St Thomas's Church)
* Královská Zahrada (Royal Gardens)
* Křižovnické NáměstÍ (Knights of the Cross Square)
* Lapidárium
* Lennonova Zed' (Lennon Wall)
* Maiselova Synagóga (Maisel Synagogue)
* Malostranské Náměstí (Lesser Town Square)
* Maltézské Náměstí (Maltese Square)
* Muzeum Bedřicha Smetany (Smetana Museum)
* Muzeum Českého Skla (Museum of Czech Glass)
* Muzeum Hlavního Město Prahy (City of Prague Museum)
* Muzeum Alfonse Muchy (Mucha Museum)
* Muzeum Uměleckoprůmyslové (Museum of Decorative Arts)
* Náměstí Jana Palacha (Jan Palach Square)
* Na Příkopě (On the Moat)
* Národní Divadlo (National Theatre)
* Národní Muzeum (National Museum)
* Národní Technické Muzeum (National Technical Museum)
* Nerudova
* Nový Svět (New World)
* Obecní Dům (Municipal House)
* Obřadní Síň (Ceremonial Hall)
* Památník 17 Listopadu 1989
* Petřínské Sady (Petřín Hill)
* Pinkasova Synagóga (Pinkas Synagogue)
* Poštovní Muzeum (Postal Museum)
* Prašná Brána (Powder Gate)
* Rudolfinum
* Staroměstské Náměstí (Old Town Square)
* Staronová Synagóga (Old-New Synagogue)
* Starý Židovský Hřbitov (Old Jewish Cemetery)
* Stavovské Divadlo (Estates Theatre)
* Trojský Zámek (Troja Cháteau)
* Ungelt
* Valdštejnský Palác A Sady (Wallenstein Palace and Gardens)
* Vojenské Muzeum, Schwarzenberský Palác (Military Museum, Schwarzenberg Palace)
* Vyšehrad
* Zlatá Ulička (Golden Lane)
Excursions
+ Excursions
Walk/Drive
Food&Drink
In The Know
Did You Know?
( Worth Seeing )
The Bethlehem Chapel was built by followers of the radical preacher Jan Milíč of Kroměříž in 1391-4. In 1402 a lecturer at the university, Jan Hus, was appointed Rector and drew huge crowds to his sermons, which were given in Czech, rather than Latin. Hus was a charismatic figure, but his attacks on the wealth and corruption of the Catholic hierarchy did not endear him to his religious superiors. He eventually overstepped the bounds of orthodoxy, arguing that the Pope had no authority over the Bohemian Church and that doctrine should be based on the scriptures alone. Hus was excommunicated in 1412 and the Bethlehem Chapel was closed. Summoned to defend his teachings at the Council of Constance two years later, Hus consented to leave the safe territory of Prague only after being issued with a guarantee of safe conduct by the Emperor Sigismund. But the Emperor went back on his word: Hus was arrested, condemned as a heretic and, on 6 July 1415, burnt at the stake.
The decision to reconstruct the Chapel was taken in 1949. The prayer hall is trapezoid in form, the timber roof resting on plain stone supports. The total area measures 798sq m - ample space for the congregations of 3,000 who came to hear Hus speak. Painted on the walls are scenes from the life of the reformer and his followers, based on contemporary sources and painted by members of the Czech Academy of Fine Arts. Upstairs in the former preacher's house is an exhibition: 'The Bethlehem Chapel in Czech history and the tradition of non-Catholic thinking'.
Address: Betlémské náměstí, Praha 1
Phone: None
Open: Daily 9-5. Closed 1 Jan, Easter Mon, 1 and 8 May, 5 and 6 July, 28 Oct, 24-6 Dec
Restaurant: Cafés (Inexpensive) near by
Bus: 6, 9, 18, 22
Metro: Národní třída
Accessible: Few
Admission: Moderate
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