On the 2nd and final day of our Prague tour, we made our way to a town with is very rich in its heritage, about a 2 hours drive from Prague.
Kutna Hora town, where Kutna means "Mine" and Hora is the name of the major mine when the town was at its most glorious day, very wealthy due to the abundance of silver ore in the area.
In Kutna Hora, The Cemetery Church of All Saints with its very unique and historical Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church), is a must visit attraction.
The bones 40,000 people who died of the plague in 1318 and during the Hussite wars in the 15th century are contained within. Originally buried at the church cemetery, at the end of the 15th century when the church closed, the exhumed bones were transferred to the chapel and compiled into pyramids. In 1870,a monk there arranged the bones and skulls into creative decorations that include bells, the Schwarzenberg coat-of-arms, and a chandelier, signifying the in the end, all are equal. To this day, archaeological and restoraton works are still ongoing. And more bones indeed has been found!
After viewing the awesome arrangement within the Ossuary, we took a quick walk about the church before heading off to our next destination.
This UNESCO-listed Church of St. Barbara has a unique design with a three-tent roof and intricate flying buttresses. Such beautiful architecture makes it undoubtedly a landmark of Kutna Hora and the town's most significant monument. It took over 500 years to complete its construction due to interruptions caused by wars or lack of fundingl And if the church exterior already stunning, the interior of the church is not anywhere different in its splendor too.
Walking around the big compound, one can spend the afternoon enjoying the beauty of nature and architectural blend of serenity. With some stalls nearby, we can even conviniently have a snack and drink while doing so.
Indeed another eye opening day for us to the rich historical culture of Kutna Hora and its unique heritage of these churches.
