The Chapel of the Divine Heart of Jesus

known also as the spa chapel nearby the glass or colonnade bridge

 

 

 

Its predecessor was the chapel from the year 1760, which was dedicated to St John Nepomuk. It stood approximately 100 meters farther in the west, between the spa main office and the former bookshop, at the place where a fountain is situated at present. The chapel was built during the ministry of the parish priest Adam Krizsan. The baroque building had been so popular with people that cardinal Rudnay gave the priests who were being treated in Piešťany permission to celebrate holy masses there. Towards the end of 19th century, however, the chapel was already abandoned and finally pulled down. From the former chapel, a picture is still preserved, showing the event of throwing John Nepomuk who had been tortured to death into the Vltava (river) from Charles's bridge in Prague. It was painted in 1882 by a Franciscan friar, Konrad Švestka for the family of Ján Čiepka and his wife. At present, the painting is placed above the sacristy door in the latter Chapel of the Divine Heart of Jesus. The Chapel of the Divine Heart of Jesus was finished in the year 1897. It was built by architect Henizl from Senec, during the ministry of parish priest Jozef Práznovský who came from Hlohovec. He was known for his good relationships with Erdoedy counts.

The floor plan of the chapel is rectangular, with a polygonal closure of presbytery design. The building has a flat ceiling and a noticeable moulding, the walls are divided with flat pilasters and Corinthian capitals. Despite the fact that from the outside it looks like a neogothic or pseudo-Gothic building, in reality it is an eclectic construction. Gabled turret was originally covered with zinc roof tile.

 

 

The facade is decorated with indented sections, mouldings and pilasters. In the gable on the front there is a statue of the Holy Virgin of Lourdes in a circular relief. In the niches there are statues of St. Elizabeth of Thueringen and St. Stephen, Hungarian king. Due to the remnant of Communist ideology, St. Stephen is without a crown, the attribute of state power.

 

 

The original paintings by Erik Paula exist no more. In 1975, liturgical equipment was rebuilt according to the guidelines of the Second Council of Vatican. The author of the interior is architect Ľudovít Chmelár while the donator is M. Medek.

 

 

The chapel nearby the glass bridge is very popular with spa guests. It is especially its cosy and appealing interior that attracts many engaged couples who get spliced when entering the holy estate of marriage at this romantic place on the bank of the river Váh.

 

 

Literature used:

Ľudovít Chmelár-Hlohovský (2003). Piešťanský dekanát. Magma, Čadca, 58-59.