The town of Kutna Hora

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

Take a walk around Kutná Hora and discover the history of the town that used to stand just behind the royal City of Prague some centuries ago, town that was called the jewel and the treasury of the country, town whose wealth elevated the Czech kingdom on the pedestal of fame and power.

Today, the original atmosphere breathes from every single street, from every house and church. They all represent pieces of history, which put together create an extraordinary picture of the past. Kutna Hora can offer its visitors the historical atmosphere of a medieval town - thanks to its patrician houses, narrow lanes and irregular- shaped squares. At present visitors to Kutna Hora may spend some pleasant moments sitting in restaurants and wine cellars, which have been opened in these vaulted cellars.

The town of Kutna Hora is a picturesque medieval town situated some 60km east of Prague. The source of all the splendour and wealth of the town was silver ore extracted once in this region. The history of Kutna Hora silver mines reached its climax in 14th and 15th centuries, when Kutna Hora was one of the richest places in Europe, where silver was found and extracted. The town became the cultural, political and economic centre of Bohemia, competing, as for its importance, even with Prague.

The dominant and boast of Kutna Hora is its St. Barbara's Cathedral. Besides other interior decorations there are also medieval frescoes depicting the secular life of medieval mining town of Kutna Hora inside the Cathedral. There is a monumental early

baroque building of the Jesuit College adjoining St. Barbara's Cathedral and attracting our attention by its filigree reticulated Gothic supporting system.

You can see other remarkable buildings there, for example the building of "Hradek" (the Little Castle), now a museum housing exhibitions showing the history of silver mining and the origin of financing in the Czech Lands. As a part of the exhibition tour you may visit one of the medieval silver mines.

Another interesting sight to be seen in the town of Kutna Hora is the Italian Court, once the Mint of the Czech State and the Royal Residence of our kings of Bohemia. At present this building houses a very interesting exhibition of Kutna Hora minting called "The Royal Mint" and a steady exhibition called "The World of Czech Coins and Medals".

The municipal part called Sedlec also offers some remarkable architectonic beauties. It is the place where the history of the town of Kutna Hora started in. A large area of the Cistercian Monastery and the monumental baroque Cathedral of Our Lady has remained there until these days. In the vicinity of Sedlec there is the Church of All Saints located together with the well-known and attractive Ossuary (the Bone House).

The rich interior decorations were made exclusively of human bones originating from the historical period of the Thirty-Year War. You will never see anything exactly like it! Estimates suggest that the bones could be from as many as 40,000 people. They are displayed in a tasteful, artistic way and really shouldn’t be missed if you visit the town.

In 1995 the town of Kutna Hora was listed on the UNESCO World's Cultural Heritage List.

More informations :
http://www.kutnahora.cz/index.php?lns=en