Bus trip to mining town Kutná Hora and eccentric Sedlec Ossuary
Kutná Hora is a medieval mining town founded in the 13th century. The town is famous for its silver mines, and it has preserved its medieval town character to date, and is rightfully included on the UNESCO list of the most important cultural heritage of the Czech Republic. Great to visit all year round. The Sedlec Ossuary is among the most visited tourist attractions of the Czech Republic.
Highlights:
- Enter St. Barbara Cathedral, the iconic Gothic church of Kutná Hora, with precious wall paintings.
- Visit the Sedlec Ossuary - the most whimsical & interesting church in the Czech Republic.
- Walk in the peaceful town. Enjoy the laid-back atmosphere.
About Kutná Hora and the Sedlec Ossuary:
Kutná Hora is the Pearl on the UNESCO Necklace. The rise of Kutná Hora (Kuttenberg) is traditionally connected with the development of the monetary business in the 13th century; however, the beginnings actually date all the way back to the end of the 10th century.
Around 1300, King Vaclav II issued a new mining law (Ius regale montanorum), which stipulated the royal rights over mining silver and minting, established a united coin, and concentrated minting in Kutna Hora. The town developed with great rapidity, and at the outbreak of the Hussite Wars in 1419 was the second most important town in Bohemia after Prague, having become the favourite residence of several Bohemian kings. It was here that, on 18 January 1409, Wenceslas IV signed the famous Decree of Kutná Hora, by which the Czech university nation was given three votes in the elections to the faculty of Prague University as against one for the three other nations. Along with the rest of Bohemia, Kutná Hora passed to the Habsburg monarchy of Austria in 1526. In 1546, the richest mine was severely flooded. The mines were abandoned at the end of the 18th century.
The historical centre of the Urban Conservation Area, together with Gothic St. Barbora’s Church and the Church of the Assumption of Mary in Sedlec, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1995. Other interesting sights are the Italian Court, a palace and currently a museum of coin minting, and the Ossuary.
The Ossuary is a Roman Catholic chapel, located beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints, part of the former Sedlec Abbey in Sedlec, a suburb of Kutná Hora. The ossuary is estimated to contain the skeletons of between 40,000 and 70,000 people, whose bones have, in many cases, been artistically arranged to form decorations and furnishings for the chapel.
Included:
- Guide (English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish)
- Round trip Prague-Kutná Hora-Ossuary-Prague in air-conditioned coach
- Admission fee to St. Barbara Cathedral + Ossuary
Meeting Point:
See the meeting point on the map (Náměstí Republiky 3, Prague 1)
Important:
- Bring your ID with you
The popular UNESCO protected ancient silver mining city in Central Bohemia
The city is located in the Central Bohemian Region. Kutná Hora was inhabited as early as in the 10th century, but blossomed into town in the 13th century when the silver was discovered in the area. Silver mining brought great wealth to the town.
The royal mint was established in early 14th century during the reign of King Wenceslas II and Kutná Hora started producing the Prague groschen coins. It became the second most important town in the Kingdom of Bohemia. During the 16th century, the mines begun run dry and the town´s treasure soon became a history...
Church of St. Barbara (St. Barbara´s Cathedral)
is a Roman Catholic church built in Gothic style. The church is dedicated to St. Barbara - the patron of the miners. The construction took nearly 500 years. The first architect is said to be Johann Parléř (son of Petr Parléř, the famous architect of St. Vitus Cathedral and Charles Bridge in Prague).
You will be captivated by the interior full of Gothic and Renaissance paintings. Part of the UNESCO Heritage and one of the most stunning churches in Europe, be sure to have enough time to explore the St. Barbara´s Cathedral.
Italian Court
is the former Royal Mint where the silver coins were produced during the Kutná Hora´s time of wealth and glory in the middle ages. The original treasury rooms hold an exhibit on coins and minting. The complex of buildings is now used as a City Hall as well as museum.
Stone Fountain
The Gothic stone fountain on Rejsek Square was built in the 15th century by architect Matěj Rejsek (who also worked on the Church of St. Barbara and is the author of Powder Tower in Prague). The large fountain has twelve sides, is four meters tall and originally had a hexagonal roof.
The fountain used to supply water to Kutná Hora when local water supply was cut off during the silver mining. Water was brought in through wooden pipes from a well few kilometers away. After dark you can enjoy the sight of the fountain being beautifully lit up.
Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church)
If you like unusual things, this place should be on your list of places to see. The ossuary is located around 1 km away from the Kutná Hora train station - you can get there by either train, bus or taxi. The ossuary is in the undeground chapel of the Church of All Saints which was founded in the 13th century.
The present appearance is the work of a woodcarver František Rint who was commissioned in 1870 to decorate the chapel. For that he used bewteen 40 000 - 70 000 bones. His fantastic creations include a coat of arms of the local aristocratic Schwarzenberg family and a chandelier that contains every bone in the human body.
Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady at Sedlec
If you are visiting the Ossuary, take a short walk to the Cathedral which is also on the UNESCO World Heritage site. The cathedral was built in the High Gothic style in the 13th century on the ruins of old church and it was the most magnificent church in the Kingdom of Bohemia. The church was burnt down by the Hussites and was again refurbished in the 18th century in the Baroque Gothic style.
