Kutna Hora is a perfect destination for one day trip from Prague. Once upon a time, it was the second most important town in the Czech kingdom. A third of all European silver was mined here. The Royal Mint was located here. And it was here the Prague Groschen — a coin used all over Europe — was minted.

Today, numerous Gothic monuments remind us of the city's former wealth: majestic St. Barbora Cathedral, Church of Saint James the Great, Italian Court, and Hradek, to name a few. The place is also famous for its ossuary decorated with bones of 40000 people.

How to get to Kutna Hora? When is the best time to go there? What sights to visit? You will find all the answers in this article.

How to Get to Kutna Hora from Prague?

Trains

Trains to Kutna Hora leave from Prague Main Railway Station (Praha hlavní nádraží). You can choose between a direct connection or changing trains in the town of Kolin. The trip takes 1 to 1,5 hours, and the return ticket costs approximately 12-15 euros depending on the exchange rate.

The main train station in Kutna Hora is about 3,5 km (2.2 miles) from the city center and about 1 km (0,6 miles) to Sedlec — the part of the town where you will find ossuary and the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady. So, visiting Sedlec first and then moving to the city center makes sense. You can use local buses or taxi services to get around. Besides, there are tourist information centers at the train station. And another one is near the ossuary. Therefore, you will quickly get help if you have trouble navigating local transportation.

Alternatively, you can buy a ticket to the station close to the center — Kutna Hora Město — and transfer to a local train at the main station (Kutna Hora Hlavní Nádraží). There is always one connecting with the train arriving from Prague. These local trains also stop in Sedlec, so you can use them to get a bit closer to the ossuary. The name of the stop is Kutná Hora Sedlec.

Buses

If you prefer to use buses from Prague to Kutna Hora, they leave from Haje metro station every two hours. However, the trip by bus will take longer, something between 1h 40m and 2 h. You can buy a ticket to Kutna Hora Bus station, which is 15 minutes walk from the center, or to Sedlec.

Cars

A trip by car from Prague to Kutna Hora takes about an hour. There are several parking options in the center: Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí), Radnická Street, and Komenského Square, to name a few. All cost 20 CZK (appr. 0,8 euro) per hour. If you want to visit more places in one day, consider adding a stop in Cesky Sternberk castle on your way to or from Kutna Hora. Find the best rental prices on rentalcars.com.

Tours

Another option is to book a private tour from Prague to Kutna Hora or join the group trip. You can explore available offers and make your reservation via GetYouGuide.com.

The Best Time to Visit Kutna Hora

You will enjoy your visit to Kutna Hora regardless of the time of the year. Most visitors come from April to October. The town might be more crowded, but the days are long, the weather is pleasant, and all museums are open. However, if you come in winter, you will still be able to visit most of the attractions except for the route in the medieval silver mine.

If you like historical festivals, don't miss the Royal Silvering of Kutna Hora — a celebration that takes place annually at the end of June. During the festival, the town goes back more than 600 years into history. You will see theatrical performances in the street, costume processions, knight tournaments, and more.

Brief History of Kutna Hora

The history of Kutna Hora goes back to 1142 when the first Cistercian monastery in Bohemia was founded in Sedlec. Life in the abbey and the nearby village was very quiet until the 13th century when the discovery of silver deposits started a real golden (or, in this case, silver) rush. People came here in the hope that they would soon be rich. They built houses around mines. Inns, bathhouses, merchants' shops, and brothels appeared nearby. That is how the town of Kutna Hora began — chaotically and without any strict plan. And that is why you will surely fail if you try to find one straight street in the historical center.

Soon, Kutna Hora becomes the second most important town in the Bohemian kingdom. At the beginning of the 14th century, the so-called Italian Court - central royal mint - was founded here, and the production of silver Prague groschen coins started. Most Gothic monuments we admire today were built in the 14th and 15th centuries: St Barbara Cathedral, Stone Fountain, the church of St James, Stone House, etc.

The town's prosperity ended in the 16th century. The deposits of silver were running out. In 1547, the minting of the Prague groschen stopped. The deepest silver mine in the world, Osel, closed soon after that. The big inflow of silver from South America ultimately ended the mining era.

Kutná Hora turned into a peaceful provincial settlement. Even the rapid development of industry in the 19th century did not change this. The small town with about 20,000 residents still preserves the unique atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Because of its outstanding architecture, the historical center and Sedlec Abbey, with its ossuary, were included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 1995.

What to See in Kutna Hora?

Cathedral of St Barbara

The construction of the cathedral in Kutna Hora began in 1388. It was devoted to Saint Barbora. And there is no surprise here. She is supposed to be the patron saint of all miners. Locals wanted this cathedral to be as magnificent as St.Vitus in Prague. And many Prague architects worked on it. The result of the work of Jan Parler, Matyas Rejsek, and Benedikt Ried still takes our breath away today. Don't miss a chance to see the interiors of this church with rare Gothic frescoes and stone-cutting art masterpieces. You can find up-to-date information on entrance fees and opening hours here.

Italian Court

The Italian Court in Kutna Hora played a significant role in the state's economy for many centuries. The building, dating back to the 13th century, served as the royal residence when the king visited the town. From the 14th to the 18th century, it also housed the kingdom's mint, which produced silver coins known as Prague groschen. Today, the Italian Court has been converted into a museum where visitors can learn more about the history of local coins and even try to create their own ones. The information about tour options, opening hours, and admission fees can be found here.

Hradek

Hradek means "little castle" in Czech. The first records about it date back to 1312. Throughout the years, it has undergone several renovations and served various purposes, such as a wooden fortress, a stone gothic palace, and a school. People say this building was even home to a secret silver refining and coinage workshop at one point. Today, the Czech Mining Museum is located in Hradek. From April to November, visitors can take The Journey of Silver tour. Not only will you be able to learn more about medieval methods of mining and processing silver, but you will also be equipped with a torch and a miner's coat and explore an original medieval mine. Note that such tours are very popular, and it's better to book a ticket in advance.

Church of St. James

The 85-meter-high tower of St. James Church is visible from all around the town. That is why the church is sometimes referred to as the "Tall Church." The construction of this stone temple began in 1330, and it was the first of its kind in the town. Initially, the building was designed to have two towers, but the architects later realized that the nearby mines could compromise the structure of the building and changed their plans. The church is home to several interesting frescoes from the 15th century, the predella of the destroyed main altar from 1515, featuring the scene of the Last Supper, and a painting of The Holy Trinity by Petr Brandl from the 18th century.

Stone House

The Stone House is one of Central Europe's most beautiful secular Gothic buildings. You can quickly identify the house by a high triangle-shaped gable with Gothic windows, richly decorated with sculptures, and a double gate. From April to November, you can visit an exhibition "Royal Mining Town – Burghers' Life and Culture from the 17th to the 19th Centuries" in the Stone House.

Stone Fountain

The Stone Fountain at today's Rejskovo Square dates back to 1495. Not only is it interesting as a late Gothic jewel, but also as a technical monument. Drinking water was brought here via wooden piping from the spring of St Adalbert, which was located 2.5 kilometers away.

Church of All Saints in Sedlec — Ossuary

The church of All Saints in Sedlec is also known as the Church of Bones. It all started at the end of the 13th century when the abbot of the Sedlec Monastery brought a handful of holy soil from Jerusalem and scattered it in the local cemetery, significantly elevating its prestige. People from the Czech Kingdom, Poland, Hungary, Bavaria, and beyond wanted to be buried here. When the cemetery needed to be reduced in size, the remains of those from abolished graves were collected in a chapel. In the latter half of the 19th century, František Rint arranged the bones of approximately 40,000 people to create the unusual interior of the chapel.

Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and St John the Baptist and the former Cistercian Monastery in Sedlec

The Sedlec Cistercian Abbey was established in 1142. Initially, it was a small and relatively poor monastery. However, after the discovery of silver deposits on its land, it became one of the wealthiest monasteries in the region. Yet, soon enough, it became heavily indebted due to loans to kings that were rarely repaid. The Hussite Wars further worsened its fate, as the Hussites burned down the monastery and killed the monks who were unable to escape. The monastery was later reconstructed, and the cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and St John the Baptist was built during that time by Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel. This cathedral is a unique combination of Baroque and Gothic architecture and is definitely worth a visit. Please visit the official website for information on admission fees and opening hours