Kutna Hora: how to get there and what to see?

The cities of the Czech Republic have preserved the spirit of history. In the south of this beautiful country you will find ancient cities with a Gothic architectural variety and uniqueness. Each corner of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is filled with romanticism and modernism. One of these cities is Kutna Hora, a place of silver mines with centuries of history.

It is also called the Czech treasury. One of the most visited places in the world. It is always crowded, crowds of fascinated tourists with open mouths, accompanied by a guide, dashes are mixed from one object to another. In the Middle Ages, Kutna Hora (Czech Republic) was considered the second capital of this beautiful country for beauty and wealth, and was also the center of the silver mining industry.

Today, the population has declined slightly and is no more than 20,000 people. The city has preserved its original appearance to the present day. Walking along the cobblestone streets, through which once miners and kings hawked, you will feel the atmosphere of antiquity and unique charm. Here everything breathes history.

Tourists come to the city to personally see the great sights and feel the spirit of the Middle Ages. That there is only one Kostnitsa (Kutna Hora) - a collection of human bones in the truest sense of the word. This unusual place is not for the faint-hearted. Causes the visitors completely different emotions. Today we will get acquainted with the main objects of the city in details.

Kutna Hora: how to get to your destination?

• By train: there are several railway stations in the city. Trains run every hour. Travel time will not be more than an hour.
• Bus lines: in Prague there is a bus station called Florenc, from there regularly depart comfortable buses. Duration of the trip is 1,5 hours. The ticket costs approximately 58 CZK.
• By car: we leave Prague, we turn to the east, we move along the highway 38 through the city of Kolin. The distance is 60-80 km.

Historical reference

The legend says that the monastery used to be located on the site of the city. One monk at work decided to rest a little and dozed off. Whether in a dream, or in reality, he saw silver sprouts, hence the name Kutna-Gora. In the Middle Ages, the city experienced a "silver fever", its mines supplied almost a third of this metal to Europe. This place was visited by real pirates and adventurers. Thanks to silver, the city became very rich and significant. The Temple of St. Barbara was erected on the proceeds.

For young people, hostels and schools were built-completely free of charge. Already passed many years since that era, but this place still remains majestic and has universal value. Today it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The whole earth is dug by underground mines, where people from different parts of the globe are flocking. In the summer, interesting and informative excursions to these historical places are conducted.

Historic sites and landmarks: Kutna Hora

The most horrendous and at the same time bewitching is the Chapel of All Saints, or the Belfry. It was located in a picturesque place Sedlec - a kilometer from the station on the outskirts of the town. The interior of the catastrophe is truly awesome, completely made of human bones. According to reliable data, 40 thousand remains were used for these purposes. Some call the chapel the Church of the bones. It dates back to the 14th century.

The history of this object is rather sad. In 1421 there was a fire here, and the entire adjacent territory of the Sedletsky Monastery suffered greatly. Until the 18th century, no one was engaged in its restoration. In 1784 the bone farm was purchased by the rich family of Schwarzenbergs and decided to give the monastery a presentable appearance. The reconstruction was done by a talented woodworker who turned the chapel into a real work of art.

It took a lot of time for this. The main material was human remains, which the artist-decorator first disinfected, and then bleached with chlorinated slaked lime. Under the influence of this solution, the bones became white. Having studied the material and appreciated the beauty and smooth lines of the ribs, the miniature phalanx, he created the coat of arms of the Schwarzenbergs. It turned out to be unusual and infernal.

Also from the remains were garlands, donors, candelabra and flowerpots. His autograph, he also recorded on the wall with the help of bones. Strong emotions and emotions are caused by the Austerity. Kutna Hora is proud of this creation and honors it. The first sensations of tourists are very powerful, it seems that he found himself in an ominous place - in the Satanists or in the tomb. There is not enough guide in black cassock and the shades covered with human skin - everything else is available. With surprise, visitors look at an immortal creation, imitating a Gothic monastery.

Sacred place

The main attraction and architectural monument of the city is the Cathedral of St. Barbara (Kutna Hora). It is often compared with the temple of St. Vitus. The interior of the temple is decorated in Baroque and Gothic style. The walls of the cathedral are decorated with frescoes, which depict workers of the mint and miners. The last update was carried out in the 20th century. Attention is drawn to the mesh arch, decorated with coats of arms of guilds of artisans.

Not far from the temple is an observation deck with a panorama of the historic city. From here you can observe the Jesuit College of the 17th century. And the Church of St. Jacob. Simply put, there is something to admire. In the summer, the mountain museum Hradek, opened in the 15th century castle, opens its doors to tourists.

The presented expositions and mechanisms are devoted to the silver mining industry. For visitors excursions around the medieval mine are arranged. Tourists must equip themselves with helmets and issue special lamps to illuminate the path. A fascinating walk through the dungeon will leave an indelible impression.

Church monuments

In the city of Kutna Hora there are many amazing holy places and buildings. These include the Church of Our Lady, the Monastery of Ursulines, the Church of the Holy Trinity (in the cemetery), the Church of St. John of Nepomuk and St. Nicholas, the Chapel of the Body of the Lord. Getting to the holy places, you feel their power and strength.

Vlashesky yard

Today it is a museum with expositions of monetary affairs and an instrument of torture. It dates back to the 7th century, previously there was a mint. The museum acquaints visitors with the process of the appearance of Prague penny and forging money. You can see old coins, admire the fountain and throw a coin in it. There is a legend: if you throw a coin over your shoulder and get on a tray, which is held in your hands by a statue of a miner, then you will soon become a rich man.

Chapel of St. Wenceslas

This is a masterpiece of Gothic art, adorned with valuable altars. In 1904 the museum itself was decorated with famous and experienced masters Maria and Frantisek Urbanova. The collection of the chapel consists of various objects made for the Kutnorska Town Hall. A special attention was given to the royal hall, decorated with historical paintings. In the cathedral, many mysteries are hidden, which have not lost their significance even today. An important component is powerful acoustics. Symbols and paintings add a person to the saint.

Hradek Museum

It is a wooden structure, which used to be a defensive fortress. Capital reconstruction began in the 14th century, in those early times the building was designed in the Gothic style, and the interior interior - in the Renaissance style. Periodically, the lock was passed from hand to hand. There was an oil shop, a pub, a bakery, a seminary, and even a police department. And only in the 20th century did it become a museum of silver. An excursion to this place will tell you about the mining industry of the medieval town of Kutna Hora (photo is presented in the article).

Czech Sternberg - Gothic castle

This structure was founded many centuries ago, and still above the fortress towers an eight-pointed star, depicted on a blue flag. This amazing place will introduce tourists to the history of the castle and the ancient family of the Sternberg family. The castle has a rich collection of paintings, family portraits, stucco moldings and engravings of the 30-year war. There is also a collection of hunting trophies, historical weapons, antique furniture, glass, gold coins and porcelain.

Other objects to view

If you are lucky enough to visit the wonderful Prague, do not miss the opportunity to see the Stone fountain with the house, the Baroque Plague Column, the Sanctuary House and the Archbishopric with real quotes from Cicero. Walk along the romantic Rutgard Street and admire the unusual architecture of the mansions.

Walking leisurely along the city of Kutna Hora and enjoying the atmosphere of the ancient era, do not forget to look into the cozy restaurant and try the Czech beer and national dishes. In addition to the cultural and historical heritage, in this place there are many interesting places where you can go with children.

It is famous for interesting entertainment facilities and Prague. Kutna Hora is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the traditions of local people and enjoy the fascinating journey. If you arrive here in early June, you will go to the theatrical costume show - Royal silvering. You will get a maximum of positive, personally see the knight tournaments and visit the fair.

In the heat, go to Dvorce - the center of sports and recreation, consisting of a volleyball court, a grassy beach, tennis tables, a swimming pool and much more. Take a walk with the children on the mirror corridor of the tower, similar to the Eiffel, which is located on the hill Petrshin. Show the child a spectacular ceremony of changing the guard and take a picture with the Guardsman.

Visit the toy museum (free for children), which displays exhibits from different eras. Another unforgettable place will be the zoo. We do not recommend visiting Prague in winter, as most of the museums, castles and cathedrals are closed. In any case, the trip will give a firework of feelings and a lot of vivid impressions.