Klaus Family Tomb Chapel in Mysłowice

The tomb chapel stands in the old cemetery of the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Mikołowska Street in Mysłowice. It was built as the family tomb of an industrialist, and today it is the burial place of the priests of this parish.

An industrialist's foundation

The cemetery was founded in 1811. In 1870-1871 the Mysłowice industrialist Anton Klaus, owner of many local mines, founded a chapel there for his family. Above the entrance the inscription “Familie Klausa 1870” has survived. In 1909 Fr Franciszek Klaszka, the builder of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was buried in it. In the 1970s the chapel was adapted as a tomb for the priests of the parish, remains were exhumed into it from the new cemetery, and epitaph plaques were placed on the facade.

Structure and interior

It is a small neo-Gothic building of sandstone, faced with cut stone blocks, on a rectangular plan closed on three sides on the west. The elevations have buttresses topped with pinnacles. In the east facade is a portal with a grille decorated with a fish-scale motif, and above it a stone rose window with stained glass. The interior has two bays, a crypt and a black and cream marble floor. Inside stands a neo-Gothic altar in the form of a mensa with a crucifix, and an Art Nouveau gravestone stele of Ernest Bresler.

The chapel was entered in the heritage register in September 2003; the protection covers the building itself. It is used by the parish.

Practical information

• Location: the old cemetery on Mikołowska Street, Mysłowice.
• This is a burial place; cemetery silence and respect are expected.
• The rules of entry to the interior are set by the parish.