In 1758, the construction of the Chapel of the Holy Cross began based on a design by Nicolo Pacassi. It lasted almost 5 years. The architect was Anselmo Lurago, who not only built, but also often “brought to perfection” many buildings in Prague.
However, now the Chapel of the Holy Cross looks different, because in 1852-1856 it was rebuilt in the classical style, which better matched the spirit of the time. It is now a rectangular building with rounded sides and a pointed roof.
The facade of the chapel is decorated with niches containing statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul; inside, 19th-century wall paintings depicting scenes from the New and Old Testaments have been preserved. On the marble altar stand statues of angels and a large icon, “Crucifixion,” painted by Frantisek Xaver Balka. On the sides also hang his icons depicting Saint Vitus, Saint Wenceslas, Saint Teresa, and Saint Francis.
In 1961-1990, the interior of the chapel housed a unique exhibition of the St. Vitus treasure - more than 400 extremely rare valuables, including armor, the vestments of hierarchs, church utensils, and saints' relics. Because of such valuable contents, the chapel began to be called the Treasury. Today, it houses a tourist information center, as well as the administration of Prague Castle.
