Kutná Hora is a smaller town in the Czech Republic with about twenty thousand inhabitants. The city once rivaled Prague in its importance to the Czech Kingdom because it was a prosperous silver mining town. The sleepy bohemian village is only an hour's drive away from the capital but is well worth visiting on its own. The city was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage City in 1995, but this beautiful city still hasn't received the attention it deserves. Most travelers view Kutná Hora as a day trip; however, the city and its rich history have so much more to offer. Here are a few things that make the Silver City special.
Cathedral of St. Barbara
The Cathedral of St. Barbara was constructed in the 13th Century and is the crown jewel of Kutná Hora. The cathedral was dedicated to the patron saint of miners, St. Barbara.
This gothic masterpiece symbolizes the importance of mining to the once-powerful Kutná Hora. The cathedral is a sight that you cannot miss — with a unique exterior and a three-peaked roof that's super-photogenic.
The interior is richly decorated with frescoes, colorful stained glass windows, statues, and a magnificent ceiling. Take a moment to look up at the roof with a design that looks like a row of giant flowers.
I'd recommend that you spend some time inside the cathedral to take in all the details of its beauty!
Hradek
Otherwise known as the Czech Museum of Silver and The Medieval Mine — you need to add a visit to Hradek to your itinerary if you're in Kutná Hora. The museum was once a residential home that belonged to a wealthy mine owner.
In the museum, you'll get to see local minerals and medieval silver coins. You'll also get to mint your very own silver coin to take home as a souvenir.
Because it's a town built on top of miles of exhausted silver mines, the museum also offers a tour of the mines. "The Journey of Silver" is a guided tour that'll take you through the original medieval mines.
It will take you around an hour and a half, but it's well worth seeing the silver mines that once made Kutná Hora one of the wealthiest cities in the Czech Kingdom.
Sedlec Ossuary
Just outside of Kuná Hora, in Sedlec, you can find one of the most interesting (and undoubtedly bizarre) churches. Famously known as the "Bone Church" or "Church of Bones," the interior of this small chapel is artistically decorated with bones from over 40,000 human skeletons!
In 1870, the noble Schwarzenberg family hired a woodcarver named Frantisek Rint, who skillfully arranged thousands of bones to create the "Bone Church" that we see today. The church's interior is decorated entirely out of bones, including garlands of skulls and even a large chandelier in the center of the chapel.
The Sedlec Ossuary may be one of the most unique places you could ever visit, so if you're in Kutná Hora, make sure you don't miss out!
Historical Center
The town's historical center is full of houses, monuments, and churches that you have to see when you visit Kutná Hora. Take some time to wander the narrow cobblestone streets of Kutná Hora and take in its beauty.
There are plenty of opportunities to take photos and so much to see!
By just walking around, you'll come across many of the best things to see in the town, like the Stone Fountain on Rejsek Square, the oldest church in Kutná Hora — the Church of Saint James and Palacky Square right in the heart of Kutná Hora.
The once incredibly prosperous town is a sight worth seeing if you're ever planning on visiting the Czech Republic. The attractions and sites mentioned in this article only make up a portion of what the town offers.