Planning a day trip from Prague to Kutna Hora? Are you looking for the best things to see and do in Kutna Hora? Kutna Hora is a UNESCO city famous for sights such as St. Barbara Church or Sedlec Ossuary, alias Bone Church and much more. Kutna Hora, Czech Republic and not that far from Prague, and it will take your breath away!!!
In this blog post I will cover Sedlec in Kutna Hora
The history of Sedlec Abbey
The seat of the Slavik noble family settled in Kutna Hora and all surrounding areas in the 10th century. The Markvartic family took over in 995 after the Slavik family, were assassinated. A member of the Markvartic family, Miroslav from Cimburk, founded the most ancient Cisterian establishment in Bohemia in Sedlec. The first twelve monks came to Sedlec from the Frankish abbey of Waldsassen in 1142.
The discovery of silver ore sources in the neighborhood of Sedlec gave birth to Kutna Hora. The real silver-mining fever had begun, and settlers from the neighboring countries the same as local people were moving to Kutna Hora.
Thanks to the wealth generated by silver deposits, the town grew, and it became a political and economic center of Czech lands, competing even with Prague.
In the 14th century, Kutna Hora started to produce Prague Groschen that was the coin common throughout Medieval Central Europe, and the town became a financial center of the lands.
The Abbey was burnt in April 1421 by Hussites and killed many monks. Few monks returned, but it took until 1620 to revive the monastery. The Abbey was dissolved in 1783 for good.
Sedlec Abbey is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995
You can visit Sedlec Abbey while you are visiting Kutna Hora. Kutna Hora is a “must-see” city. I put together the “Perfect day trip” to help plan your trip. How to get there and what to see – read more here.
Sedlec Ossuary – Kostnice
Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church) is a small Roman Catholic chapel located beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints, part of the former Sedlec Abbey in Sedlec. The ossuary estimates to have skeletons from 40,000 to 70,000 people. These bones have been, in many cases, artistically arranged to form decorations and furnishings for the chapel. The ossuary is among the most visited tourist attractions of the Czech Republic, attracting over 400,000 visitors annually.
Why Sedlec became famous?
In 1278 King Otakar II. of Bohemia sent Henry, the abbot of Sedlec, on a diplomatic mission to Holy Land. When leaving Jerusalem Henry took with him a handful of earth from Golgotha which he sprinkled over the cemetery of Sedlec monastery. That made the cemetery famous, throughout central Europe. (Similar Holy fields were also in Rome, Pisa, or Paris).
At the end of the 15 century the cemetery was partially reduced and bones from abolished graves moved into the Ossuary.
Legend says – A half-blind monk arranged bones and skulls into the pyramids. He got his eyesight back after he finished all his work.
The present arrangement of the bones dates from 1870 is the work of Czech wood-carver, Frantisek Rint. Rint was responsible for bleaching all of the bones in the ossuary to give the room a uniform look. He also introduced the Schawarzenbergs coat-of-arms in decoration. The signature of František Rint, also executed in bone, on the wall near the entrance.
Let’s visit the “Bone Church”
At the Ossuary entrance is inscriptions IHS in Latin and Greek, which means Jesus Hominum Salvator – Jesus the Saviour of humanity.
When you enter, you will see two giant pyramids made out of bones In the corners of the lower chapel. The bones represent multitudes that none can count on facing God’s throne. Death does not make any difference.
Redemption – the work of Christ’s salvation has been started by his incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection. It will be completed by the resurrection of all who died. Everyone will be called to a new life. Everyone who is goodwill gains a heavenly Kingdom, which is symbolized by wooden crowns.
The chandelier
An enormous chandelier of bones, which contains at least one of every bone in the human body, hangs from the nave center with garlands of skulls draping the vault. There is an entrance under the chandelier to the crypt, which contains the remains of 15 wealthy citizens. Baroque candelabras are around the crypt.
The coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms in the left part of the chapel belonging to the Schwanrzenbergs family. The rook getting through the eye of a Turkish soldier symbolizes Schwanrzenberg’s victory over Turks in the battle at Raab in 1591.
And what are all those sculls behind the Coat-of-arms? Those are skulls of warriors in Hussites wars.
A collection of human skulls piled on top of each other. Each religious display arranged out of bone, reminding visitors that the chapel remains a respectful place of worship, despite its rather macabre contents.
What to think of “Bone Church”
When you hear for the first time that somewhere in the Czech Republic is a “Bone Church,” you might think how crazy a display that has to be! Who wants to look at human bones, but this beautiful work does remain us of a fact and worth of eternity. God has concluded a covenant that puts us under an obligation to responsibility towards God and our neighbors. The observance of the covenant will be appreciated when we die.
You will feel very special in the Church with all the history around you and with all the mystery of all these bones around you. It is a truly experience to visit.
Here you will find more interesting facts about Sedlec Ossuary
Easy day trips in Czech Republic
Are you planing trip to Czech Republic? Are you a bit overwhelm what place to go visit and see? I know there is so much to see and not just in Prague! The whole country is full of beautiful Gems. Here are couple of my blog posts to help you plan some day trips.
- The perfect day trip – Prague – In this blog post, you can plan an entire day trip for visiting Prague Castle and Lesser Town. I put places together which will help you to stay in one area and not to lose time by traveling from place to place.
- Romantic day trip to Prague – On this Day Trip, I follow the previous post but move to the Old town square and areas around.
- Lovely day trip – Kutna Hora – Kutna Hora is a favorite place for tourists to visit. You should definitely put it on your bucket list.
- Celiac? Traveling to the Czech Republic? – When you are traveling to the Czech Republic, here are helpful tips on letting people you are Gluten-Free, where to eat, and shop.
Will you come to visit “Bone Church”?!!!
What do you think? How would you feel looking at the skeletal remains of over 40,000 people?
The bone church is open 7 days a week year-round, except on the 24th and 25th of December. You can borrow explanatory texts in a variety of languages from the cashier’s desk.
Visitors to the bone church often describe it as macabre, eerie, or creepy, and I once asked the lady at the desk if she ever felt bothered to be working there. She dismissively flipped her hand and said, “Pfft! They’re only bones, they won’t hurt you; it’s the living which scares me”.
and there you have it….Enjoy the city and whole country!!!!
Until next time…!
DOBROU CHUT!
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