Kutná Hora | City of miners registered in UNESCO

This time we will visit the Central Bohemian Region in our wandering through the UNESCO heritage in the Czech Republic.

Kutná Hora has been listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. Thanks to the fact that silver was mined in Kutná Hora, it was one of the most important and richest Czech royal towns in the Middle Ages. In the 13th century Kutná Hora miners produced about 1/3 of silver production throughout Europe!

The churches and burghers' courts in Kutná Hora are built in Gothic style, or at least have a foundation on it, which was further modified in Classicist or Baroque style.

Kutná Hora, in terms of beauties and monuments, is ranked among the top places that can be visited in the Czech Republic. Let's go to the very monuments and architectural attractions that can be seen in Kutná Hora.

Cathedral of St. Barbara

The Late Gothic temple was founded as a mining temple in 1388 at the expense of the patrician Kutná Hora families. The architect was Matěj Rejsek, who is also responsible for the stone fountain in the town, which you will learn about in the next paragraphs. The interior gallery on the first floor of the cathedral and the concept of tent roofs, including the circular vaulting of the main area of the temple, are the work of the renowned architect Benedikt Ried.

The temple is dedicated to Saint Barbara, who is the patron saint of all miners. As typical of this city and this county.

Admission to the temple is paid, but the decorated interior with frescoes and sculptures of all possible artistic styles from Gothic to Renaissance is definitely worth it.

Only a short walk from the temple is the Chapel of Corpus Christi, which is a small structure but was built earlier than the Church of St. Barbara.

Cathedral of St. Barbara

Cathedral of St. Barbara

Jesuit College

Near St. Barbara's Church you will find a Jesuit College, a 17th-century Baroque building designed by Italian architect Giovanni Domenico Orsi. The Jesuit College currently serves as a gallery.

On the way in front of the Jesuit College called Barborská you will find numerous statues of important saints.

Jesuit College

Jesuit College on the left side of Barborská Street

Italian Court

When silver deposits were discovered at the Sedlec monastery, Italian Court was also established, which later became the main mint of the Czech Kingdom during the reign of Wenceslas II. A palace with a Gothic chapel was added above the stamping hall.

The Italian Court was reconstructed at the end of the 19th century. Today it houses a museum and a municipal office.

Italian Court

Church of St James

Church of St James was founded in 1420 and can be found in the very center of the town. The dominant feature of the church is the 80-meter St James Tower, but it is interesting that two towers were planned. However, the second could not be realized due to poor ground. It is the oldest preserved stone church in the town.

Thanks to its height, the church was formerly called the High Church, and its financing was co-funded by the coinage from Vlašský dvůr. Inside you will find a painting by Peter Brandl of the Holy Trinity, which is part of the Baroque altar. Later on Brandl passed away in Kutná Hora.

Church of St James

Stone Fountain

Matěj Rejsek is also behind another symbol of the town, which is a stone fountain. According to him, the fountain is sometimes called Rejsek´s Fountain.

This 12-square stone fountain was built in the late Gothic style. Since the local water was contaminated by silver mining in the Middle Ages, water from the surrounding areas was supplied to the town by a few kilometers long wooden pipeline. The fountain served its original purpose, ie a reservoir of drinking water, until 1890.

Stone Fountain in Kutná Hora

Stone House

This narrow house is one of the most important Gothic monuments in our country. The stone house was built by the burghers Prokop Kroupa and master Brikcius Gauske participated in the decoration of the front gable. Visually this house is completely different from the neighboring ones, so it is hard to miss it when wandering through Kutná Hora.

Stone House

Marian Plague Column

The plague column designed by Giovanni Santini and sculptures by František Baugut is located in Šultysova Street, close to the Church of St James. It was built in the 18th century.

Marian Plague Column

Church of Our Lady “Na Náměti”

This church was funded by the proceeds of ore that fell to the ground during trading and was then swept into a pile, hence the name "Na Náměti". The painter Petr Brandl is buried in this church

Church of Our Lady “Na Náměti”

The Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and St John the Baptist in Sedlec

It is also worth mentioning nearby Sedlec, which is located not only another UNESCO architectural church of the Assumption and St. John the Baptist, but also the Cemetery Church of All Saints with the Ossuary, which houses the remains of 40 000 people.

And from those human bones, skulls, shoulder blades and hips, all interior decorations such as the chandelier and crosses are built.

Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist

From the streets and squares that are located in Kutná Hora and, last but not least, from their churches, the history breathes on us. As you know it for example from Český Krumlov or when walking through old Prague.

In the UNESCO are listed the historic center, the Cathedral of St. Barbara and the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Sedlec.

If you like these buildings in photos and postcards, you will like them also from near and inside. Be sure to plan your visit to Kutná Hora.