Kutná Hora – Why it should be on your #Bucketlist

Kutná Hora is an unsuspecting little silver mining city east of Prague in the Czech Republic with UNESCO declared sites. Though a day trip from Prague is not nearly enough to explore the entire city, there are highlights. The city is underrated but slowly becoming a must visit place even with only a few hours.

Prior to my visit I had not heard of it until Good Prague Tours mentioned it as a must visit. As much as I love Prague and wish to visit every season, the Czech Republic has many incredible cities. One of those being Kutná Hora and in this article I will share the highlights of the trip. It doesn’t matter how much time you have, make time for each of these must visit sites in Kutná Hora.

 

Kutná Hora – Why it should be on your #Bucketlist

Are you wondering why I implore you add it to your #bucketlist on your next Czech Republic adventure. It might not have been on your radar but it’s increasingly becoming  more popular. Many tour companies offering a day excursion from Prague, it is definitely worth it.  Here is a little history on this incredible city and why it’s called the silver mining city.

The city hails from the first Cistercian monastery, Sedlec Monastery, where the monks resided. It is believed the name stems from Kutten {cowls} or kutání meaning mining in old Czech. Back in the 1200’s, the monks had a relatively peaceful and quite life, until Silver was sadly discovered. Before long the king made the town of Kutná Hora the second most important city in Bohemian times.

The money that resulted from the silver discovery led to the city being one of the wealthiest with Royal governance. It also helped fund the likes of St Barbara’s Church and Cathedral of our Lady being built. During the 13th through to the 16th centuries, the city gave Prague a run for its money. But it would later be filled with wars, invasions and natural disasters which left it poor.

From the end of the 18th century, enduring through the two world wars, Kutná Hora stands today. It is rich in history if not much else and no longer part of the Austrian monarchy. It is an incredible city that has stood the test of time even after the mines were abandoned.

Kutná Hora – Must Visit Places

The night before the visit to Kutná Hora, I made a mental note of must visit places, this post was helpful. I often make a point to visit popular places but also the not so known places. Whilst it is easy to catch public transport to the city, it made sense to do a guided tour. I booked a day trip with Premiant City Tour who organise a 5.5-hr tour of the city. Transport is provided in the fee of €22 a definite bargain and I highly recommend, to use time wisely. Here are some of the places we were able to explore on the guided tour;

Saint Barbara’s Cathedral

St Barbara is the saint of the miners, it is believed she let light into the mines to guide the miners. I don’t know how true this is but it is part of the city and who am I to dispute this incredible legend. Would you believe me if I said this church wasn’t actually finished even though it looks complete? When our guide said it wasn’t completed because they city run out of money I was shocked. It looked pretty complete to me but he meant they did not finish the original plan. The church was meant to be bigger than it is now, which totally blew my mind as it’s a large church now.

St. Barbara’s Church ⛪ A saint who died due to following her #faith was killed for it by her own father. . . I learnt so much visiting #kutnahora @visitkutnahora and can not recommend it enough . . . #seetheworld #exploreeurope #worldatyourfeet #abmtravelbug #kutnáhora . . . #Travelawesome #travelblogging #traveldiary #travelgram #travellife #travelphoto #travelphotography #travelpics #traveltheworld

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It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the most famous Gothic churches in central Europe. It’s construction started back in 1388 but so much happened that it wasn’t completed until 1905. The city struggled to build the church for over 60 years because of decline of the silver mining. It then turned to the people who contributed to its completion. When you enter the church you will notice part of the ceiling is different courts of arms depicted. This is to show the families that invested in the church for it to be built to what it is today.

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Stroll through Jesuit College

Jesuit College is located on the side of St. Barbara’s church, it was built by an Italian architect born in Vienna. For nearly 50 years the college was not completed until 1750 but the Jesuits order stayed in since 1678. Walking from the Cathedral the college is lined with astounding statues of different important men in Czech history.

Whilst the Jesuit order was abolished in 1773, the Baroque statues lined the terrace of Jesuit college. The twelve statues are depiction of the Jesuit saints including St Wenceslas. Until 1998 the College served the needs of the soldiers and now is a UNESCO Heritage site.

Italian Court

Once a centre of economic power and part-time royal residence, Italian court was heavily involving in minting. The Italian Court has two parts; Royal Mint  – now an educational gallery and Royal Palace showcasing the once royal residence. Once upon a time it was an important part of Kutna Hora, the Decree was of Kutna Hora was signed here.

St. James Church

It is the most centre location in Kutná Hora located in the medieval town and the oldest church in they city. Though construction only started in 1350, by 1356 the first service was held and dedicated to virgin Mary. The construction was completed in 1420 and part of the original plan was to build two towers. Due to issues with the subsoil the plans were abandoned and now only the North tower was built. The sanctuaries are lined with some of the oldest inscriptions in Kutná Hora dating back to 1356.

Bone Church

When I was reading up on the Bone Church I came across this article which explained it all for me. I had heard that people who died during the Hussite Wars and the plague were burned here. The bones were late exhumed and according to legend, a blind monk stacked them up. What fascinated me the most when I visited the bone church was the court of arms. It belongs to the Schwarzenberg family and it completely made our of bones in such intrinsic detail.

Yesterday I went on one of the most fascinating #trips in #czechrepublic yes #praha is gorgeous but sometimes you need to explore more than just the #touristy areas. . . . Our wonderful guide from @good_prague_tours (V) took us to @visitkutnahora and it was such a memorable visit, starting with this court of arms made from human bones. . . . . #kutnahora #kutnahorabonechurch #kutnáhora . . . #Travel #traveling #travelgram #travels #traveldiaries #travelblogger #traveladdict #neverstopexploring #wanderlust #liveauthentic #lifeofadventure #natgeotravel #welltravelled #iamtb #searchfinddiscover #inspiringtravelpics

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It is believe that, in 1238 a monk returned with clay from Jerusalem and sprayed it onto the cemetery. This thus made it holy burial ground and before long everyone wanted to be buried here. Today it is one of the major touristy attractions in Kutná Hora. It is definitely a place to visit because while it might seem strange it is not scary at all.

THE CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY AND SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

Today this splendid basilica is a roman catholic parish since the Sedlec monastery was abolished by Joseph II. It was built between 1290 – 1320 and is located in the old town of Kutná Hora. Literally a stone throw away from the Bone Church. During the Hussite invasion the church suffered damn but even with that it managed to scope a ward.

The church is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and one of the most important Czech Gothic Building. It was built on an old church back in 1300’s, the Abbey that burnt down during the war. During my visit to the city, the church was being prepared for service so our visit was limited. I was however allowed to take some pictures which truly made my day.

What I have shared in this article does not even cover half of what we saw in Kutná Hora, these are highlights. The city is definitely small but it has so much to offer and I am glad I took the plunge. It is super easy to get to the town though public transport operates on an hourly basis. Its less than £6 for a return ticket and most places charge a small fee to enter but definitely worth it.