The town of Kutná Hora, founded in the first half of the 13th century, was originally a mining village on a silver mine. Having become a major silver mining center by the end of that century, the small village grew into a wealthy royal city. Kutná Hora is rightfully considered a treasury, the wealth of which stood at the height of the Czech kingdom.
Kutna Hora in summer
Kutna Hora boasts completely unique buildings from different historical periods and architectural styles, and at the end of the last century, due to its historical uniqueness, this city was included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
Cathedral of St. Barbara in Kutna Hora
It is best to start exploring the historical center of the city with the most famous architectural landmark of Kutna Hora - the Gothic Cathedral of St. Barbara (Chrám svaté Barbory, No. 1 on). The construction of the cathedral, dedicated to the patroness of miners, began in the second half of the 14th century on the initiative and with the money of wealthy citizens of Kutna Hora. Such famous architects as Jan Parler and Matthias Reisek took part in the construction of the temple, and according to some sources, the cathedral should have been twice as large as it actually is.
Cathedral of St. Barbara and the surrounding area of Kutna Hora
The Cathedral of St. Barbara in Kutna Hora is a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture. It is both a national cultural monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, the cathedral hosts regular services, group excursions and organ concerts.
Chapel of Corpus Christi
In the immediate vicinity of the Cathedral of St. Barbara there is another attraction of Kutna Hora - the Chapel of the Corpus Christi (Kaple Božího těla, No. 2 on). The construction of this two-story cemetery chapel began in the second half of the 14th century, but only the lower floor, intended for the ossuary, was built; the upper chapel, for unknown reasons, was never completed.
At the end of the last century, the condition of the chapel deteriorated so much that it was included in the list of one hundred endangered architectural monuments in the world. After the completion of reconstruction in 2000, the Chapel of Corpus Christi in Kutna Hora was opened to the public, the chapel building also hosts concerts, weddings and other celebrations, and the observation deck on the roof of the chapel offers beautiful views of the surrounding Kutna Hora.
Lower floor of the Chapel of Corpus Christi
Jesuit College in Kutna Hora
Continuing your tour of Kutná Hora, take a stroll along the wide Barborská street, decorated in the same way as in Prague with statues of saints. The second of the thirteen baroque statues is female, it personifies Saint Barbara, the patroness of Kutna Hora.
On the left side of the street there is a two-story building, which, thanks to its Baroque facade, decorated with stucco, pilasters and towers, looks a bit like a palace. This is a complex of buildings of the former Jesuit College (Jezuitská kolej, no. 3 on), built at the end of the 17th century. The college existed for more than a hundred years, and after the abolition of the Jesuit Order it was closed and until the end of the last century belonged to the military.
Barborská street, Jesuit College on the right
Today, the buildings of the Jesuit College house a gallery of contemporary art, which also displays works by young Czech artists and designers and an exhibition telling the history of the Jesuit College in Kutna Hora.
Hrádek Silver Museum and Medieval Silver Mine
Kutná Hora is home to the Czech Silver Museum, housed in a small Gothic fortress from the late 13th century, located here on Barborská Street.
Initially, the Hrádek fortress (“Hrádek”, no. 4 on), that is, the “Little Castle,” was part of the fortifications of Kutna Hora, but at the end of the 15th century it was rebuilt and received its modern appearance in the style of a late Gothic castle palace. The owner of the palace, who got rich from illegal silver mining, mined and smelted it in mines right under the castle.
Hrádek Castle
The Silver Museum presents an exhibition illustrating the history of the city during the period of “silver” prosperity of Kutna Hora. The exhibition contains exhibits demonstrating the processes of silver mining, including a huge wooden device capable of lifting loads weighing more than 1000 kg from a depth of 200 m. Also in the silver museum you have the opportunity, wearing a miner's helmet, to go down under the castle and explore the medieval silver a mine near the city.
Church of St. Jacob in Kutna Hora
Continuing your walk around Kutná Hora, after visiting Hrádek Castle, turn onto the small but very picturesque Ruthardská street, along which you will reach the next attraction of the city - the Church of St. Jacob (Kostel svatého Jakuba, no. 5 on).
The construction of this temple began in the first half of the 14th century and the Church of St. Jacob became the first stone temple of Kutna Hora. According to the original design, the large Gothic church was supposed to have two towers, however, due to its location above the silver mines and the instability of the soil under the temple, only one tower was erected. The unusual height of the only tower gave rise to the second name of the temple; until the 17th century, the Church of St. Jacob in Kutna Hora was often called the High Church or the High Cathedral.
Lonely tower of the Church of St. James
The church retains Gothic choir benches from the late 15th century, while most of the interior of the church dates from the late 17th century, including Baroque confessionals and an altar. The Church of St. Jakub in Kutna Hora also boasts two rare Baroque organs. Nowadays, regular services and concerts are held in the temple.
Vlassky yard
The next attraction of Kutná Hora is located a few steps from the Church of St. Jacob - this is the Vlašský, or Italian courtyard (Vlašský dvůr, No. 6 on).
Vlassky Dvor is a beautifully fortified castle built at the end of the 13th century, which was originally used as a silver storage facility in Kutna Hora. But at the beginning of the 14th century, as part of the monetary reform carried out by King Wenceslas II, which closed mints throughout the Czech kingdom, the Central Prague Mint was opened in the Vlassky Dvor. It was here that new silver coins began to be minted - the Prague penny, which became one of the strongest European currencies of that time. The castle began to be called the Italian court in honor of the Florentine financiers invited by Wenceslas II to carry out this monetary reform.
Inner courtyard of the royal residence in Kutna Hora
For several centuries, during the times of wealth and glory of Kutná Hora, the Vlassky Dvor was the center of economic power of the Czech state. At the beginning of the 15th century, it became the favorite residence of King Wenceslas IV, and the king chosen here, Władysław II Jagiellon, made the Vlaš Court his permanent residence and Kutna Hora a royal city.
Nowadays, Vlassky Dvor is one of the most visited tourist sites in Kutná Hora, it houses the Royal Mint Museum, and you can also visit some of the most interesting parts of the castle - the royal chapel and the audience hall.
Plague pillar, or plague column in Kutna Hora
Continuing your exploration of Kutná Hora, it is impossible to miss the baroque pearl of the city - the Plague Column (Morový sloup, No. 7 on), installed at the beginning of the 18th century. This is a monument to the thousands who died during the plague epidemic that struck Kutna Hora in 1713. In gratitude for deliverance from the plague, a statue of the Virgin Mary was installed on top of the column.
Stone house
Walking through Wenceslas Square, you will come to another Gothic landmark of Kutná Hora. The stone house (Kamenný dům, no. 8), built in the second half of the 15th century and owned by a city official, is unique for its elaborately decorated stone facade and large cellars. It is considered one of the most important monuments of late Gothic architecture in Europe, as well as one of the most striking surviving late Gothic houses in the Czech Republic.
Today, the Stone House is managed by the Czech Silver Museum and houses a permanent exhibition dedicated to the life of the townspeople of Kutna Hora from the 17th to the 19th centuries.
Facade of the Stone House
Church of St. John of Nepomuk in Kutna Hora
From the Stone House, walk along Lierovou Street to the Baroque Church of St. John of Nepomuk (Kostel svatého Jana Nepomuckého, no. 9 on). This is the only baroque temple in Kutna Hora.
By decision of the city council, the construction of the temple in connection with the celebration of the canonization of John of Nepomuk began in the mid-18th century. The church was built according to the design of the famous architect F.M. Kanka, who worked in Kutna Hora at the invitation of the Jesuit Order. During the large-scale reconstruction of the Church of St. John of Nepomuk at the end of the 20th century, a luxurious interior in the Rococo and Baroque styles was restored, the main idea of which was to honor and glorify the patron saints of the Czech lands, frescoes illustrating the legend of St. John of Nepomuk, and church furniture were also restored.
An unusual phenomenon can be observed in this church in May and June. The sun's rays penetrating through the red stained glass window illuminate the image of the saint very brightly and create the impression that his heart is bleeding. This unique phenomenon is best demonstrated on the eve of the feast of St. John of Nepomuk.
Interior of the Church of St. John of Nepomuk
After reconstruction, in addition to services, concerts and exhibitions are held in this Kutna Hora temple.
Stone fountain
From the Church of St. John of Nepomuk you can see another landmark of Kutna Hora - the Stone Fountain (Kamenná kašna, No. 10 on).
The Late Gothic Stone Fountain was built at the end of the 15th century according to the design of the famous architect Matthias Reisek, who also took part in the construction of the Cathedral of St. Barbara in Kutna Hora. The fountain is interesting not only from the point of view of art history, but also as a technical monument, because it was part of the medieval water supply system of the city. Water was supplied to it through wooden pipes, and the fountain itself was covered with a roof and served as a water reservoir that fed other public fountains in Kutna Hora. Also from the Stone Fountain, two private branches of water supply were laid: one to Hrádek - for the needs of the family of the wealthy owner of the “Little Castle”, and the other, called “splashes of water for the king” - to the Vlassky courtyard.
The stone fountain was a source of drinking water for townspeople until the end of the 19th century; now it is one of the symbols of Kutna Hora.
Stone fountain in the evening
You can finish your self-guided tour of Kutna Hora at the Stone Fountain, but, perhaps, the impression of this silver city will be incomplete if you do not visit another, perhaps the most famous attraction of Kutna Hora - the world famous.
How to get to Kutna Hora
The easiest way to get from Prague to Kutná Hora is by. Trains from to from Kutna Hora Central Station departonce every two hours, in the opposite direction - everyhour. Then you need to transfer to the train to the stationKutná Hora město or walk to the center - a distance of about 5 km. GPS coordinates of the first route point: 49.945033N, 15.263580E.
Do you want to use car rental in Prague or another city in the Czech Republic? and about a service that allows you to book a specific car, and not just its class. And c - comparison of popular services for selecting a car rental, their pros and cons, searching for the most profitable one
The main tourist information center of Kutna Hora is located in one of the historical buildings on Palacky Square at the address: Palackého náměstí, 377/5. Here you will be provided with information about the historical sites of the city, cultural events, they will tell you how to get where you need to go and where to eat, in addition, at the information center you can buy maps, tickets, postcards and souvenirs.
Additional information centers are located at the main railway station of Kutna Hora and near the Cathedral of St. Barbara.
Prague is a paradise for Russian tourists: a hundred types of beer, fried sausages, marinated sausages and all this against the backdrop of breathtaking architecture. Getting out of such a comfort zone is a quest for the most desperate.
But we need to see the rest of the Czech Republic. And vacation is a one-time thing. Therefore, we get up, proudly leave the cafe and go on an excursion to Kutna Hora. This charismatic city 66 km east of the capital will be able to surprise you. There is not only a huge ossuary, there is also a silver mine, and much more. You can have a nice walk.
And all sorts of little things, like "How to get there" And “Where should I have lunch?”- has not been a problem for a long time. Now we will organize everything.
Let's open our small guide.
Two words about history: Kutna Hora was also not built right away
First there was the monk Antonius. He lived for himself, did not bother anyone, and worked in the vineyards. But one day he took it and dozed off on one of the hills of what is now Kutna Hora. Some people dream of a table of chemical elements, but ours The monk dreamed of silver. He woke up and went to look for the place he saw in his dream. I found both the place and the hidden silver bars. He left his cassock there and went home.
And a few years later a city grew around that hill, which is now called that "The mountain of the old monastic robe" or... Kutna Hora.
It was in this city that the “silver rush” later happened. So the unofficial name of the city is “the main treasury of the country.”
Silver mining. The work of miners is difficult and important.
How does the former Kuttenberg live today?
The population of the city is 20.5 thousand people. But There are tourists here all the time: ominous Ossuary. In addition, UNESCO considers the city center a world heritage site - another reason to visit Kutna Hora.
This city is an introvert's dream. Despite the fact that there are no travelers here, there are never many people on the streets. You can walk for half a day and hardly count 10-20 people around.
A good city, not crowded, calm, UNESCO loves it.
What to see in Kutna Hora? Except bones!
There are definitely enough attractions for a day of active recreation:
Ossuary
This is such a very strange church, inside which almost everything is made of human bones (chandelier, lamps, coat of arms, etc.).
The Church is strange, strange, terrible, terrible.
Friends, existence is perishable.
Entrance: for adults - 90 CZK, for children - 60 CZK.
Opening hours: from 9:10 to 16:18.
Where: Zámecká, 284 03.
Cathedral of St. Barbara
The second largest and most Gothic Czech church. Saint Barbara patronized the miners, who in the past made up a significant part of the city's population.
The temple is named in honor of Saint Barbara of Iliopolis, a Christian great martyr. Beautiful on the outside...
... and everything inside is interesting, especially the ceiling - covered in coats of arms.
Admission: for adults - 50 CZK, for students, children - 30 CZK.
Opening hours: from 9:10 to 16-17:30
Where: Barborská, 284 01.
Jesuit College
And in a modern way - the European Art Center. This amazing building has been here since 1667.
The paved road along the Jesuit College leads from the Cathedral of St. Barbara to the Cathedral of St. James.
There are sculptures along it - like on the Charles Bridge.
Admission: for adults - 80-200 CZK, for students - 40-100 CZK, children under 6 years old - free.
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
Where: Barborská, 284 01.
Plague Pillar
A 16-meter high architectural reminder of the most severe epidemic of the bubonic plague.
The plague never returns.
Either because there are antibiotics, or because there are plague pillars.
Where: Šultysova, 284 01.
Silver Museum
Tourists are offered two excursions: “City of Silver” and “Path of Silver” (with a descent into the mine).
Their silver museum is called “Gradek”, that is, “Small Castle”.
The exhibit sits and mints silver coins.
You can try it too.
Entrance: 70-120 CZK.
Working hours: from 9-10 to 16-18, Monday - closed.
Where: Barborská, 28.
Stone well
Today it is not operational, but used to be part of the city water supply.
Some call it a well, others call it a fountain.
But there is a feeling that it is neither one nor the other.
Where: Rejskovo náměstí, 284 01.
Former mint
It is also the Vlassky yard, where the first pennies were minted. Here you can listen to history and numismatics, or you can go down to the cellars and visit the “Discovery of a Mysterious Face” exhibition. It is dedicated to robbers, witches and their trial.
In the courtyard of the yard... mint...
In the center is another fountain-monument to the Kutnogorsk miner.
Admission: for adults 85 CZK, for students and children - 45 CZK.
Opening hours: from 9-10 to 17-18.
Where: Havlickovo namesti, 522.
Cathedral of St. Jacob
The tower of this cathedral is visible from almost any part of the city, which helps to navigate Kutna Hora.
The tower with the bell tower of the Cathedral of St. James is visible from everywhere...
But…
The repairman is coming now. The tower and main facade are in the woods.
But there is beauty on the inside.
Where: Barborská, 51 284 01.
Stone house
An ancient building on which a pottery sign with Eve and Adam is still preserved. Inside there is an exhibition dedicated to the history of the city and crafts.
The stone house is the one with the red tiled roof. It is located on a narrow street, and from the facade it does not completely fit into the frame, so you usually have to photograph it a little from the side. Once upon a time, a rich butcher lived here. And now there is an exhibition.
Let's take a closer look at the façade - true Gothic, the details matter!
Where: Kamenny dům, 284 01.
Ursuline Convent
Previously, nuns of the Order of St. Ursula lived here, and now they conduct excursions and sell local wines.
At the monastery of the Order of St. Ursula there was a church gymnasium.
Where: Jiřího z Poděbrad 17, 284 01.
Cathedral of the Resurrection of the Virgin Mary
An unusual temple in which you feel the light and space on your skin from the first minute.
They say that in size in the Czech Republic it is second only to St. Vitus Cathedral. They're probably joking...
Admission: for adults 50 CZK, for students and children - 25 CZK.
Once a month (first Wednesday) from 13:00 to 17:00 - free entry.
Opening hours: from May to October, schedule: 9:00-12:00, break, 13:00-17:00.
Where: Vitězna 1.
City map on asphalt
Where: near the Cathedral of St. Barbara.
Well, maybe not quite near the cathedral and not quite on the asphalt... but this is what it is - a map of the city.
Youth... As usual, nothing is sacred.
Cigar and Tobacco Museum
You rarely see its description in tourist brochures. Those who come with a group may not even be given a hint about it. But this museum of tobacco products is one of the most famous in the world (on this topic).
Smoking is harmful!
It was organized by Philip Morris. Yes, yes, the same one who invented Marlboro. She knows a lot about promotion and advertising, so the museum will be interesting even for those who have not taken a single puff over the years of their life.
Antique strange cigarettes.
The entrance is free.
Opening hours: from 10:00.
Where: you can find the museum by moving towards the Ossuary. It is located on the left side of the street.
Why did you choose a group tour? It’s scary to go to the Ossuary alone!
A group tour is a convenient way to see Kutná Hora. It's cheap (26-35 EUR per person) and comfortable. There is no need to delve into transport schedules, look for museums, or plan routes. All this is handled by the tour operator.
Route "Prague - Kutná Hora". How to get there on your own?
How to get there from Prague?
By train
He'll get there in about an hour. The trip will cost 110 CZK. You can view the train schedule.
Choose carefully: most trains have transfers, but there are also direct routes.
The main railway station of the city is Kutná Hora Hlavni Nadrazi.
Already at the Kutna Hora train station? You can take a ride around the city. There are three stations:
- Kutná Hora Hlavni Nadrazi (Main Station);
- Kutná Hora město (Have you decided to see the Cathedral of St. Barbara? This is your station);
- Kutná Hora-Sedlec (Do you want to go to the Ossuary? This is your place).
By bus
The bus will take you to your destination in an hour and a half. The fare is about 68 CZK. You can choose a convenient flight.
Bus station in the Sedlec area.
Departure from Prague from Háje bus station. You can get to the latter by metro (line C, final station).
There are two buses running around the city itself:
- on weekdays No. 1;
- on weekends No. 7.
The ticket price for any of them is 9 CZK.
By car
If you have a license, a rented car is a great option. You will get there quickly, without unnecessary transfers and stops.
Even in the very center of the city you can park for free.
But - watch the markings and signs...
We've worked up an appetite. Where should I eat now?
A considerable distance has been covered, it’s time to reward yourself with a hearty lunch in Czech style. Where are they served?
Dačický
Kutnogorsk wines and unexpected presentation of dishes are the highlight of this establishment. It's fun, noisy, cozy and colorful here. The waiters will quickly bring you a couple of glasses of beer, garlic soup and a cheese plate (note the Hermelin here). Please note, all this is at reasonable prices.
Dačický. Drink beer and eat.
Where to look: Rakova 8, Kutna Hora.
U Vlasskeho Dvora
Despite the fact that this is a hotel restaurant, the prices here are quite reasonable. Bonus: not only the menu speaks Russian, but also some of the waiters. They offer Czech cuisine, but they can also serve you mega-meat Russian borscht.
U Vlasskeho Dvora. Eat and drink beer.
Where to look: 28. rijna 511, Kutna Hora.
V Ruthardce
It is convenient to visit this restaurant directly from the Cathedral of St. Barbara. The food here is tasty, cheap (200 CZK - beer and something meat), and most importantly - a lot (a portion of salad - 400 g, pork ribs - 900 g).
V Ruthardce. And eat and drink.
Where to look: Dačického nám. 15/10, Kutna Hora.
They were in Kutna Hora. Let them talk!
Let's listen to the reviews of those who have already walked around Kostnice and the city center:
Ksenia (38 years old, Nalchik):
“In the reviews everyone is shouting about the Ossuary, but there is something to see here even without it. The first thing they did was take us to the Alchemy Museum. Visitors are rarely taken here, and not everyone knows about this museum: it has only been open since 2002. But the “laboratory” looks very... mysterious. You immediately remember all the books and films about magic. If anyone is interested, here is the address: Sankturinovský dům Palackého náměstí 377 284 01. We paid 50 CZK for tickets.”
Egor (22 years old, Tolyatti):
“While still at home, reading reviews, I chose the Tobacco Museum to visit. The excursion turned out to be fun. I looked at the very first Marlboros and saw their many predecessors. The guides were very active, sociable, and immediately handed them thematic magazines at the entrance. And the smell of tobacco in the halls added to the atmosphere.”
Nikita (41 years old, Petrozavodsk):
“We went to Kutna Hora on our own and mainly for the Ossuary. We left there, decided to eat something and realized that we didn’t know a single restaurant nearby. On the streets, as if on purpose, not a soul. We went at random, and after a certain amount of time we ended up in Dachitsky. It looks like an ordinary bar. But we had a great lunch there. For two it was 450 CZK. Although we ordered beer, chops, and traditional soup in a “plate” of bread. My wife was only outraged that the bagels that are on every table are not free, but for 10 CZK. But she still said that if we were nearby, we’d stop by this place again.”
Bus and walking tour in Russian to the sights of Central Bohemia - to the city of Kutna Hora (with a visit to the Ossuary - a chapel decorated with skulls and bones) and the Czech Sternberg Castle.
Cost: €30 per person. Duration: 8 hours.
Are you ready for the trip? Then charge your camera and phones, wash your favorite sneakers from previous hikes (of course, you can go down into a mine in stiletto heels, the question is how to get out of there later without breaking any bones) and go to bed. Tomorrow will be a day filled with emotions. Perhaps the most unusual day of your entire Czech holiday.
Kutna Hora is a city in Bohemia, which is called the treasury and jewel of the Czech Republic. Thanks to silver mining in these parts, the Czech kingdom stood on a pedestal of strength and power. The city has an unusual monument in the form of a church full of bones.
Kutna Hora, photo by Libor Maly
Kutná Hora is an ancient city with a rich, centuries-old history, 60 kilometers east of Prague.
City `s history
The name of the city, Kutná Hora, translated means “Mountain of the old monastic robe.” According to legend, one monk fell asleep on a hill and saw silver bars in his dream. When he woke up, he actually found them in the place indicated in the dream and covered the ingots with his robe. Subsequently, a mine was formed on this site, and shacks, taverns, baths, shops, etc. appeared around. The first “silver rush” in Europe began. The scattered villages united, and Kutna Hora gained the privileges of a royal city.
The city was founded in the first half of the 13th century. The Royal Mint was located in Kutná Hora, where the European currency, the Prague groschen, was minted. Thanks to its wealth, the city rivaled the Czech capital and was called “Prague in miniature.”
Kutna Hora, the silver city, has rightfully received the name “treasury of the country.” His wealth helped the development of the Czech Kingdom. But during the Hussite wars the city was severely destroyed, and by the middle of the 16th century, due to the depletion of ores, it fell into decay.
Kutna Hora has retained its unique medieval appearance to this day. Take a day trip from Prague to this magnificent city to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of antiquity. The city center, due to its historical significance and architectural masterpieces, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995.
Attractions Kutna Hora
Chapel of All Saints with ossuary in Sedlec
Ossuary
One of the attractions of the city, which is located on the outskirts in the town of Sedlec, is the Kostnice in the Cemetery Church of All Saints (Hřbitovní kostel Všech svatých) with a depressing interior, where the decoration material was human bones. You will see an altar, images of coats of arms, chandeliers... all made of human bones and skulls. If you are not a thrill-seeker, it is better to go to explore more peaceful architectural masterpieces.
Cathedral of St. Barbara
Cathedral of St. Barbara
The Cathedral of St. Barbara (Chrám svaté Barbory), the patroness of miners, deserves special attention - a unique structure in the late Gothic style, the construction of which began at the end of the 14th century. The temple attracts with Gothic frescoes and beautiful stained glass windows. Nearby there is a small observation deck with a magnificent view of the city.
Hrádek Silver Museum and Medieval Silver Mine
Hradek, photo by pavel helge
If you're in Kutna Hora, visit Hrádek - a medieval fortress turned into a luxurious palace. Nowadays the Czech Silver Museum (České muzeum stříbra) is located within its walls. An integral part of the museum tour is a visit to a medieval silver mine in special miners' equipment. To descend into a mine to a depth of 50 meters and feel like an ancient miner - this opportunity does not present itself every day!
Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist (Kostel Nanebevzetí Panny Marie a svatého Jana Křtitele) deserves attention due to the complexity of its architectural solutions. It is included in the UNESCO list. This is the first cathedral-type building in Bohemia in the spirit of Central European Gothic. The interior decoration of the church is modest, mostly gravitating towards the Baroque style. It is worth noting the wooden carved interior items: figures of angels and saints, a confessional, benches for parishioners. Numerous large windows through which sunlight flows, combined with a delicate cream finish, make the cathedral room surprisingly delicate.
The Cistercian monastery in Sedlec (Sedlecký klášter) was founded in 1142 as the first monastery of the congregation of St. Bernard in Bohemia. In 1412, during the Hussite wars, it was destroyed and burned. Of the original buildings, the monastery building of the 18th century, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist and the cemetery Church of All Saints with the Ossuary have been preserved. The abbey, outbuildings, enclosing walls with gates, a sanatorium, and a hospital have not reached us. The monastery is now home to a Philip Morris cigarette factory.
Vlassky yard
Italian Court – former mint, photo Dmitry Shakin
Vlašský dvůr (or Italian) is a palace in the city of Kutna Hora, where the central mint of Prague was located. Initially, at the end of the 13th century, the castle was built as a fortified fort to guard roads and store silver. After the monetary reform of King Wenceslas II, coiners were placed in the Vlassky court and began to mint a single currency, the Prague groschen. Coinmakers' workshops were set up in the courtyard, they were surrounded by forges, and there was a printing press right there. After reconstruction, the Vlaš Courtyard became a royal residence for some time. At the beginning of the 18th century, silver mining in Kutna Hora decreased significantly, and in 1727 the mint was closed. In 1770 there was a fire. After reconstruction, the town hall was located in the castle. Later there was a military hospital, a prison and a school.
Today, the royal chapel and audience hall, the Kutna Hora Historical Museum and the Coinage Museum are open for inspection, and if you're lucky, you can catch a demonstration of coinage.
Church of St. Jacob the Elder
Church of St. Jacob the Elder, photo Maksim
Representatives of the rich families of the city and the owners of the mountain mines decided to build the Church of St. Jacob the Elder (Kostel svatého Jakuba Staršího) at their own expense. The location was chosen on a hill above the mines. In 1420 construction was completed. Due to its impressive size and high location, it is visible from all points of Kutna Hora. Initially the church was planned with two towers. However, due to the enormous size of the temple and its location above the silver mines, one tower had to be abandoned, which made its stone construction lighter. Interestingly, the main tower is slightly inclined to the northwest. Why not the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
The temple is famous for the sculptural decorations of the southern facade, dating back to the court art of the time of Vladislav and being the largest and oldest surviving complex of Romanesque sculpture in the Czech Republic with images of the patrons of the Czech lands.
Chapel of Corpus Christi
The Chapel of the Corpus Christi (Kaple Božího těla) was built in the 14th century, shortly before the construction of the Cathedral of St. Barbarians. From the observation deck on the roof of the chapel, a magnificent panorama of Kutna Hora opens up. According to the plan, it was supposed to be a two-story cemetery chapel. The first floor would serve as a ossuary, and the second floor would serve as a chapel for services for the dead. But construction ended on the first floor.
The interior of the chapel is created in the late Gothic style. Initially, the chapel was used by the Jesuits as a ossuary, so the interior of the hall is not decorated. Then the chapel was closed, and the premises changed owners. After restoration it is open to visitors.
Jesuit College
Jesuit College
Jesuit College (Jezuitská kolej) is a two-story building in the Baroque style with transverse wings. Construction began in 1667, architect Giovanni Domenico Orsi. The Jesuits called the wide road in front of the college “The Bridge” and decorated it like in Prague. On the eastern side of the building there were sculptures of 12 saints plus a sculpture of St. John of Nepomuk, which appeared later, created by Frantisek Baugut in 1703-1717. In 1773, the Jesuit order was abolished, and the college began to be used for military purposes. Now it houses the Center for Contemporary Art.
The Church of St. John of Nepomuk (Kostel svatého Jana Nepomuckého) in Kutna Hora was built in the late Baroque style with Rococo elements. Construction began on the feast of St. John of Nepomuk, May 16, 1734, designed by the court architect Frantisek Maximilian Kanka. In the interior of the church, a stylistic unity can be traced: statues of patrons of the Czech Republic, the work of different masters; polychrome carved altar (1754) with imitation marble, the work of the workshop of F.I. Platzer. The plot of the ceiling frescoes is dedicated to the legend of St. John of Nepomuk. They were created in 1752 by F. K. Palko and J. J. Redelmayer.
After reconstruction in 1980, the building is open to the public and serves for cultural events, primarily concerts. The church is a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.
Address: Husova 121/43, 284 01 Kutná Hora. Website: kutnahora.cz.
Opening hours: daily April-October 10:30 – 16:30; November-March upon request.
Entrance fee: adult – 40 CZK; children's – 20.
Residents of Kutno Hora specifically removed the letter “s” from the word square (náměstí) and named the church after the Mother of God on Namneti (Kostel Panny Marie Na Náměti). Namneti is a place where people sweep. The temple is located in a square where there used to be a market where miners sold silver ore to traders. After it closed, in the evening, people swept away the silver dust that had fallen to the ground. After some time, they collected so much silver that it was enough to build a church.
Noteworthy is the clock on the church tower, which in the 15th century hung much lower. Residents were unhappy that the clock was hard to see from a distance, so watchmaker Jakub Vladyka had to move it higher, where it remains to this day. A stone pulpit with rich decor (early 16th century) has been preserved inside.
Today, the Church of the Mother of God on Namneti is the oldest stone building in the city, a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. Its construction probably began in 1360. In 1470, there was a fire in the church and reconstruction was carried out. This is exactly the kind of church we see today.
Stone fountain, photo Václav Dvořák
The Late Gothic Stone Fountain (Kamenná kašna) is part of the city water supply system of Kutná Hora. It was built in 1493 according to the design of the architect M. Reisek, and was in use until the 19th century. The height of the fountain is almost 4 m. This huge reservoir is interesting both as an artistic and historical landmark and as a technical monument. Water was supplied to the container through wooden pipes from a well located 4 km away. The fountain was under a canopy. It supplied the city with drinking water.
Address: Rejskova, 284 01 Kutná Hora. Website: kutnahora.cz.
Plague Pillar
After the plague epidemic (1713), it was decided to install a baroque plague column (Morový sloup) over 16 meters high, the sculptor was Frantisek Baugut. On the pillar there is a statue of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, there is an inscription: “To the Mother of God, the immaculately conceived Ever-Virgin - pious and dejected Kutna Hora, by the grace of the Mother of God delivered from the pestilence.” The sum of the numbers in the chronogram (6146) means the total number of plague victims in the city and its environs.
What to see in the area
From Kutná Hora you can go to the resort of Poděbrady.
The city of Caslav, founded around the middle of the 13th century. Czech King Přemysl II Otakar.
We went to a town located 60 km from Prague - K at tna G O ra.
Despite its small size and population, the city is very old and has many interesting places to visit.
To lift our spirits, in the morning we headed to the Church of All Saints - the Ossuary. 
The Gothic chapel is completely inconspicuous from the outside, but is known throughout the world. 
And all because it is “decorated” with human bones and skulls... 
They say it took about 40,000 human skeletons to finish the chapel.
2 times more than the current population of the city... 
A luxurious bone candelabra decorated with garlands of skulls. 
Large family coat of arms of the Schwarzenbergs - the owners of the chapel and the land around it. 
Even the altar is decorated with bones... 
In the niches of the chapel there are simply warehouses... 
Where do so many bones come from?
But the point is this: in the 13th century, one abbot, who stood near the Sedlec monastery, successfully drove to Jerusalem and brought with him the holy land, after which he scattered it over the monastery cemetery.
Word soon spread and the cemetery became a popular burial place among people throughout Central Europe. Thousands of people wished to be buried here.
Well, various epidemics qualitatively replenished the growing cemetery. 
Soon the land was bought by the wealthy Schwarzenberg family.
Burials no longer fit within the cemetery area and required storage.
Well, or used in design, which is what woodcarver Frantisek Rint, hired to put in order the piles of bones, took advantage of.
By the way, there is a shop right there. The skulls seem to be plaster... 
Near the cemetery there is a plague pillar - a 16-meter statue-monument with the city residents’ prayer to God for an end to the plague epidemic and an expression of gratitude for the lives already saved. 
The majestic Temple of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary stands very close.
Unfortunately, it would be closed for renovation work...
It’s a pity, they write that this is a real temple of light. In historical times, not a single building could compare with it in appearance with its huge windows. 
We arrived by car to the most famous architectural monument of the city - the Church of St. B A rbors. 
The temple is the second largest and most important Gothic temple in the Czech Republic and is one of the most unusual buildings of this type in Central Europe.
It's huge! 
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cathedral was originally built not for church purposes, but for representative functions of local wealthy burghers.
With its beauty and size it rivals the Prague Cathedral, hinting at the competition between Prague and Kutná Hora. Yes, yes, there was one. 
It's all about the silver!
Kutná Hora was the center of the medieval silver mining industry; its mines provided a third (!) of all-European silver production, making the city the second richest in the Czech Kingdom. 
Construction of the cathedral began in 1388, and was stopped in 1558, after which it was never completed...
The church from the west is closed only by a temporary wall.
It's certainly powerful inside! 
But quite modestly. 
Late Gothic frescoes with religious and mining themes have been preserved on the walls. 
These are the earners!
With hammers and winches. 
Chaser!
We'll visit him soon. 
The most beautiful thing here is the stained glass windows. 
I really love this business! 
Beauty! 
But in general, carved wooden statues are not far behind. 
In short, worthy! 
Next to the cathedral there is a building of the Jesuit college, similar to the Chambers in Vladimir, which today houses the Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region. This is mainly fine art of the 20th and 21st centuries.
There are sculptures of saints along the terrace. Just like on the Charles Bridge. 
There are also lions) 
The terrace offers a beautiful view of the city 
and the Gothic Church of St. Jacob with a high bell tower. 
There are a lot of interesting “moments” on the facades of buildings. 
We went to Hrádek or a small castle.
There was a fortress here to guard the Vrhlica River valley. 
Inside is the entrance to a medieval silver mine and the Czech Silver Museum.
But this outbuilding - you won’t believe it, it’s a toilet.
Waste, through a hole sealed up at the bottom these days, poured straight into the streets..
Europe! If only they wouldn't get sick... 
It feels like there are a lot of artists in the city 
and sculptors... 
Even the pavements are laid out very artistically. 
Past the monument to Tomas Masaryk, the leader of the independence movement of Czechoslovakia and the first president of the republic, 
and also a magic frog 
Let's go to the Vlaš (Italian) court - this is the first Mint, the center of minting Prague groschen. 
Today there is a museum of the history of the city with exhibitions of instruments of torture and coinage. 
Bust of Wenceslas II, who invited experts from Florence to Kutna Hora and began monetary reform.
Looks like Boyarsky)) 
Numismatists will be interested in seeing the exhibition of coins and their minting. 
According to legend, one of the monks fell asleep on a nearby hill, and in his dream he saw silver bars. When he woke up, he actually found them in the place indicated in the dream and covered this place with his robe.
This is where the name came from - “Cuthna Antiqua”, which means “old monastic robe”. 
Kutna Hora became the site of Europe's first "silver rush". Around the mines a chaotic accumulation of shacks, taverns, baths, shops, etc. appeared. Then the scattered villages united, and Kutna Hora acquired the privileges of a royal city. 
And here is the chaser - remember the fresco on the wall? 
I stuffed a coin for myself too. Stored at home.
As we were getting ready to leave, we saw a fountain in the middle of the yard.
If you throw a coin and land it on a tray of coins, which is in the hands of the miner’s statue, then a comfortable life awaits you in the future. 
Got it! Now we are waiting! What we wish for everyone))
All the best!
