Kutna Hora in winter
BRIEFLY ABOUT THE CITY
Kutna Hora is a great city to visit. And not only because it is under UNESCO since 1995. While visiting Prague and having one day to spare it is highly recommended to come over and wander around the city.
In general Kutna Hora is connected with the mining of silver ores in the past. During the medieval period it was the biggest producers of silver in Europe. It was also the centre of the minting of Prague groschens, which at that time ranked among the strongest European currencies.
Kutna Hora was the second most important town in Czech kingdom and was competing with Prague. Not only Kutna Hora but also surrounding cities/villages are worth visiting. Malin was an important seat of the second most powerfulfamily in Bohemia - Slavniks and Sedlec where you can found Cistercian monastery.
WHEN TO VISIT
You can visit Kutna Hora all year round. Every seasons offers different atmosphere and eventhough winter can be cold and little darker, it somehow goes together with the various architecture styles. Kutna Hora always attempted to equal Prague and many architects you can find behind the sight of Prague participated in the building of the sights in Kutna Hora.
Summer will give you more opportunity to enjoy the ourdoors. Especially to wonder around the St. Barbara´s Cathedral, enjoy the outdoor cafes and see the buzz on the main square. Inhabitants of Kutna Hora are not always outgoing so you can find the city in the winter almost empty.
SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF THE CITY - WHAT YOU SHOULDN´T MISS
St. Barbara Cathedral
Once you get to the city I would recommend to start your tour at St. Barbara Cathedral. The beauty of Kutna Hora is that it is neat little city and you can reach all the sights on foot. St. Barbara Cathedral was founded in 1388 and one of the first designers was John Parler, the son of Peter Parler, builder of St. Vitus´s Catherdral in Prague. Because of financial sources as well as events throughout the history cathedral remained unfinished and the building was finally completed in 1905. If you get to the city in the winter, ask for the key in the nearby shop and read more about the unsettled history in the guide offered at the entrance.
Right next to the St. Barbara Cathedral you can find The Jesuit College built in the years 1667 to 1700 by Jesuits whose role was to recatholize the Utraquist town. The ground-plan of the building has the form of the letter F in honour of the Emperor Ferdinand II. The terrace in front of it was decorated in the manner of Charles Bridge in Prague.
The sights in Kutna Hora are very close to each other thus only few steps away from The Jesuit College you can find Hradek, originally a fortress guarding the valley of the River Vrchlice turned into official seat of Jan Smisek of Vrchoviste, leading clerk, who practiced his secret enterprise from here. Today you can find museum and exposition dedicated to mining. You can also access a medieval mining work from here.
Before you would enjoy your lunch or coffee you shouldn´t miss walking through Ruthardka - lane running along the former walls of the town. The house No. 14 was once inhabited by an imposing burgher´s house with which a legend about Rozina Ruthardova, whose father did not want her to marry in order that he might be saved from providing a dowry, is connected. Allegedly he had her walled up in the cellar where she died. Her spirit then appeared in connection with bad events. In 1648 the house collapsed adn several people died in its ruins.
While walking toward the main square make a stop at The Archdecanal Church of St. James - first stone church built between 1330 and 1420. Interesting Late Gothig, Renaissance and Baroque furnishings have been preserved inside. You can visit interior only during the divine services. So time it right!
Next stop on your tour should be The Italian Court built probably in the 13th century. Originally it was used to store silver ore, later on after the reconstruction used as a treasure and residence. Its interior renovated in the late 19th century is remarkabe and worth to visit. The royal chapel ranks amont the best samples of Czech Gothic architecture.
Close to the main square you can fine The Plague column built between 1713 and 1715. This column resembles the plague column in Vienna and commemorates 6000 victims of the lague epidemic.
The most beautiful Late Gothic house (No. 183) in Bohemia can be found in Kutna Hora. It is called The Stone House and can be found on intersection of streets Jiriho z Podebrad and Ceska. It stands on the place where the former meat market as well as pottery market was. The house servers as museum nowadays and its expositions include artistic crafts as well as the original medieval kitchen can be seen here.
One of the oldest houses on the main square (Palackeho nam.) is The Sankturinovksy House. Originally Late Gothig house has a Baroque appearance nowadays and was built in 13th century. If you would like a short break you can visit Tea House next to The Sankturinovsky House.
If you have more time to spare you should not miss the house called U Mramoru No. 173 (Sultysova street), The Kaderavsky house No. 166 (Sultysova Street), The House of Princes No. 376 (Vladislavova street), The Stone Fountain (Rejskovo square), The Church of St. John Nepomuk (Husova street), The Convent of St. Ursula (Jiriho z Podebrad at Zvonarska street), The Church of the Mother of God (Na Namesti street/square).
But if you don´t have enough time just make sure that you start your tour early in the morning so you still have time to go to Sedlec, now part of Kutna Hora however few miles away from the historic city centre. You can find beautiful Cistercian monastery founded in 1142 but also The graveryard Church of All Saints with an ossuary can be found here. The legend says that in the late 13th century Abbot Jindrich of Sedlec monastery brought a handful of earth from Christ´s supulchre in Jerusalem and scattered it over the graveyard. The graveyard soil became a part of the Holy Land and burials of persons not only from Bohemia but also from Poland, Bavaria and Belgium took place here. The number of graves grew rapidly after the burning of the monastery during the Hussite wars. The specialty of the chaple is its decoration made of human bones. Half blind monk first arranged the pyramid made of human bones in 1511 and its interior gained its present appearance when the monastery was bought by Schwarzenberg family of Orlik. You can find huge chandelier, chalices, cross, monstrance and Schwarzenberg coat of arms all made of human bones.
Piazza Navona in summer
WHERE TO EAT
Have a break and enjoy your lunch or coffee in PIAZZA NAVONA situated on PALACKÉHO NÁMĚSTÍ 90, TEL.: (0327) 512 588. This pizza place is operated by Italian and the pizza is just delicious! You can enjoy outdoor seating during the summer season. For more info click here.
HOW TO GET THERE
From Prague
Kutna Hora is situated 80 km from Prague centre.
By Car
It will take approximately 1 hour by car. To plan your trip use the trip planner and click here
By Train
You can get the fast train and it takes you 1 hour (From Hlavni Nadrazi). If you take slower train (from Masarykovo train station) it will take you probably 2 hours. Ironically the fast train is a bit cheaper than the slow one. Ticket will cost you around 100,- CZK. To plan your trip and find the departure schedule click here.
By Bus
The other option is to take bus from Florenc bus station. It will take you approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. Find your connections here.
WHERE TO STAY & MORE INFORMATION SOURCES If you want more information, find accommodation, maps as well as virtual tour before you go to visit click here or here. These are official websites offering information in English.