Made for the Curious: Kutna Hora
I bumped into Kutna Hora while I was researching for my solo trip to the Czech Republic. As I read more about it, my traveller’s senses were tickled enough with curiosity to explore this mysterious town. First day in Czech and I decided to step out from the flamboyance of Prague to the curious town of Kutna Hora.
Kutna Hora is an hour drive from Prague. I took a bus which was cheap, comfortable and treated to some beautiful views of the Czech’s countryside. The town of Kutna Hora was one of the richest in Europe in 14th and 15th centuries owing to the vast silver mines. Silver mining brought about an abundance of wealth putting this town economically as the most important after Prague in the Czech Republic. Its prosperity is evident from its outstanding monuments which are architectural wonders giving it UNESCO World Heritage Site status, attracting travellers from all over the world.
As I walked through the cobbled streets, I observed ancient buildings flanked on both sides. It has a typical quaint European town feel to it; cafes and bistros; dimly lit pubs; narrow huddled passages; it’s quite a photographer’s delight.
The most important and well-known monument which gives Kutna Hora an International face is the Cathedral of St Barbara. Built over 500 years from the sandstone mined from the quarries of Kutna Hora, this World Heritage Site is dedicated to St Barbara, the patron saint of the miners.
The church has a unique design of 3 tent roof with its signature Gothic style of flying buttress. The intricate detailing on its spires, the jutting out gargoyles, chimaeras, bats and demons make this Church a crowning jewel of this town.
The nearby town of Sedlec which is in the suburbs of Kutna Hora joins it on the UNESCO list. A small train ferries passengers from Kutna Hora to Sedlec. The main city center is a 5-minute walk. As you come near the main town, the towering spires of the beautiful Cathedral of Our Lady will be visible.
Its construction is believed to have commenced in early 1300’s as part of former Cistercian Monastery. It was burned down by Hussites and rebuilt in 1699 in Gothic-Baroque style; supposed to be one of the few Cathedrals with this mixed style of architecture in Europe.
The interior of the Cathedral on the first sight is quite unassuming. However with a walk around I found it to be replete with rich and unique exhibits. Intricately carved wooden confession boxes, paintings with golden gilded frames and ornate pews.
A stone’s throw away, just across the road from the Cathedral is the Sedlec Ossuary. The Ossuary is located in the underground chapel of the cemetery of Church of All Saints. Popularly known as Kutna Hora’s Bone Church, it contains bones of more than 40,000 people who were killed during the plague and Hussite Wars between 14th-15th centuries.
František Rint arranged these bones in a decorative fashion and what we see today, the bone interiors of the Ossuary. Phenomenal, bizarre and a little unreal to be true.
A Giant bone chandelier hangs in the center which is unmistakably the most notable embellishment in the church. There are bone pyramids and small huts built from human skulls.
Bone trimmings, trinkets, various other fancy arrangements adorn the Church. Yes, this indeed was a weird sight and some tourists felt repulsive as well at the ostentatious bone festoons.
The images of these iconic monuments flashed in my mind even after I left Kutna Hora. Such a historic treasure, it was almost unbelievable for me to have visited these sites. Not many people visit this town, probably it’s the unglamorous cousin of the glittering capital city. Like every other tourist I too had planned to indulge myself only in Prague; in hindsight, I thank that fluttering bird in my head who wants to try something different always, making me explore this queer little secret of Czech Republic.
