KUTNA HORA

During the Middle Ages, profits from the Kutná Hora silver mines brought fame to the lands of the Czech Crown, and Kutná Hora became the richest and most powerful town in the Czech lands. At the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, Kutná Hora became the seat of King Václav IV.

The Gothic St. James’ Church (1330) and the St. Barbara’s Cathedral (1388), devoted to the patroness of miners, are among the most important architectural monuments. Among other jewels is the former mint – The Vlašský dvùr (Italian Court) from the 13th century, and several patrician houses. The building called Hrádek (Little Castle), which is part of the former municipal fortifications, houses a museum of mining; the tour includes a visit to a former mediaeval mine.

Other worthwhile monuments are the former Latin school and the cloister church in a suburb called Sedlec, which houses a curious ossuary. Its interior is composed exclusively of human bones, dating mostly from the Thirty Years' War..

Cultural events: Musical programs, the Silver Mining Festival, the St. Wenceslas Winemaking Festival.

Kutná Hora is situated 60 km east of Prague. A quick connection to Prague is ensured by a number of domestic express trains and regional bus lines.

The Cathedral of St.Barbora was originated in around 1380 and belongs to the most valuable monuments of the Gothic style in Bohemia. Peter Parléø realized the construction, which was completed in 1420, when the cathedral chancel with a circle of chapels was built. Later the construction was interrupted by the Hussite wars and only after their end the construction of the cathedral continued. Among others Matthias Rejsek and Benedict Rejt participated on its completing. In the mid 16th century the town grew poor and decided to stop the financially demanding construction. In 1626 the Jesuits came to Kutná Hora They took over the cathedral and began its reconstruction. They made a few Baroque changes in the interior, the ridge roof that replaced the original tent roof and the gallery connecting the cathedral with the Jesuit college changed the exterior look The Restoration in the end of the 19th century gave it the recent outlook. The oldest is the decoration of the chapel of the mint masters with lively iconographic motives of the local mint masters´ work. The unique decoration of the Smíškov chapel shows space and landscape in perfect perspectives, on the portal there are depicted the donators and the motives of still life.

The oldest monastery of the Cistercians in Bohemia was originated in 1142 in Sedlec. The later discovery of silver ore, attributed to the monk Antonio from the Sedlec monastery, brought fame and wealth not only to Kutná Hora, which grew up near Sedlec, but it also gave financial means for the construction of the monumental Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady in Sedlec. This grand five-nave basilica was the first building of French cathedral type in Bohemia. In 1421 the cathedral with the monastery perished after the fire during the Hussite attack. Giovanni B. Santini gave it the recent outlook in the turn of the 17th and the 18th centuries. Here he presented a new style – Baroque Gothic, which does not have any analogy in Europe. It combines both the styles in an interesting symbiosis. The period of prosperity did not last long. In 1783 the Cistercian monastery was abolished by the Emperor Joseph II, the cathedral was desecrated and used as the flour stock. In 1812 the tobacco production has shifted to this place and since that time the former abbey has been closed for the public. The Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage.