Bethlehem Chapel, Prague

Established in 1391 by religious reformists who were denied permission to construct a church, the Bethlehem Chapel boldly emerged as the largest chapel in Bohemia, boasting an impressive capacity of precisely 3000 worshipers. Sermons, delivered in the vernacular Czech tongue rather than the elitist Latin, drew crowds in droves, thanks in no small part to the magnetic presence of religious maverick Jan Hus, who took center stage from 1402 to 1413.

When the Pope, undoubtedly feeling a tad miffed about being upstaged, decided to excommunicate Hus in 1412, he threw a tantrum and demanded the chapel's destruction. However, the Czech government, opting instead to hand it over to the Czech Technical University. Fast forward to 1661, when the Jesuit order swooped in, transforming the chapel into a Catholic sanctuary.

Today, only the three outer walls of the original structure remain, adorned with restored biblical scenes that once served to educate the illiterate congregation. The rest? A product of 1950s reconstruction, crafted with a blend of original plans and imaginative guesswork.

Interestingly, the Communists found resonance in the image of Hus leading the masses against the Church, despite their avowed atheism. Nowadays, the chapel hosts the occasional service and classical music concert, serving as a quaint reminder of its colorful past amidst the hustle and bustle of modernity.