D14: Kutná Hora—Home to Sedlec Ossuary and Historic Silver Mines

Kutná Hora developed as a result of silver mining, and during the 14th and 15th centuries, it became one of the wealthiest towns in Europe. Today, well-preserved remnants of its former splendor are visible throughout the city. In 1995, the Historical Town Centre, the Church of St. Barbara, and the Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit here for a day or two is highly recommended!

Flying buttresses at St. Barbara's Cathedral

Seeing the flying buttresses through the windows of St. Barbara's Cathedral

TRANSPORT FROM PRAGUE

By Train

1. Buying a Round-Trip Train Ticket
• Train tickets are available both online and at the station ticket counter.
• At the counter, ask for a round-trip ticket for "Prague → Kutná Hora Město". This will be an open ticket without specific outward and return times.

  
  

  A round-trip open ticket from Prague to Kutná Hora Město

  
  
2. Outward Journey
• Prague → (Kutná Hora hl.n.) → Kutná Hora Sedlec
• At Kutná Hora hl.n., go through the underpass and take the yellow regional train toward city center.
• Note: Kutná Hora Sedlec is a small station with trains that only stop on request (zastávka na znamení), so press the button to signal the driver.
• Kutná Hora Sedlec → Kutná Hora Město
• After visiting Sedlec, board the train from Kutná Hora Sedlec to Kutná Hora Město.

  
  

  Press the button before arriving Kutná Hora Sedlec
  
  

  

  Kutná Hora Sedlec train station

  
  
3. Return Journey
• Kutná Hora Město → (Kutná Hora hl.n.) → Prague
• When transferring at Kutná Hora hl.n., go through the underpass to reach the correct platform.
4. Sample Itinerary
1. Prague → (Kutná Hora hl.n.) → Kutná Hora Sedlec
• [R 977 Vysočina] 08:06–08:56, [Os 2429] 09:04–09:09
2. Kutná Hora Sedlec → Kutná Hora Město
• [Os 2431] 11:09–11:12
3. Kutná Hora Město → (Kutná Hora hl. n.) → Prague
• [Os 2438] 16:46–16:54, [R 982 Vysočina] 17:01–17:54
  
  

  

  Train information on České Dráhy App

  
  

TOP ATTRACTIONS

Map of Kutná Hora (Left: Město, Right: Sedlec)

A. Sedlec

1. Getting Tickets at the Information Center 🔗[Map]
• Ossuary and cathedral tickets are available at the information center or online.
• Admission Options
• Sedlec Ossuary + Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec + Church of St. Barbara: CZK 360 👍 Highly recommend!
• Sedlec Ossuary + Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec: CZK 220
• Guided Tours (for large groups): Day Tour and Night Tour are available but must be booked in advance.

  
  

  Souvenirs at Information Center

  
  
2. Sedlec Ossuary 🔗[Map]
• Opening Hours
• April–September: 09:00–18:00
• November–February: 09:00–16:00
• March and October: 09:00–17:00
• In 1870, the Schwarzenberg family hired woodcarver František Rint to organize the bone heaps, resulting in a macabre yet captivating display. (Remember the name “Schwarzenberg” — it will come up again in Český Krumlov.)
• Currently undergoing reconstruction (until at least 2030), but still well worth a visit!
• Note: No photography is allowed since 2020 due to past visitor behavior.
• After visiting, be sure to go up to the 1st floor for more information about the ossuary and the church.

  
  

  Go up to the 1st floor from the stairs on the right.

  
  

  

  Memento Mori, Remember Death

  
  
3. Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec 🔗[Map]
• Opening Hours
• April–September: Monday–Saturday, 09:00–18:00 | Sunday, 11:00–18:00
  
• November–February: Monday–Saturday, 09:00–16:00 | Sunday, 11:00–16:00
  
• March and October: Monday–Saturday, 09:00–17:00 | Sunday, 11:00–17:00
• Originally built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries in just 30 years, the cathedral was destroyed by the Hussites in the 15th century in a single night. The remaining ruins, known as the Splendissima Basilica, still amazed onlookers with their grandeur.
• In the 17th century, renowned architect Jan Blažej Santini Aichel revived the abandoned ruins, preserving its Gothic simplicity and enhancing it with elaborate Baroque elements. This unique Baroque Gothic style earned the cathedral a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995.

  
  

  Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec

  
  
4. Souvenir Shop 🔗[Map]
• This shop offers a range of intricately designed accessories inspired by the ossuary’s human bone displays.

B. Město

1. Viewpoints 
• Viewpoint of St. James 🔗[Map]

  
  

  From this point, you can see St. Barbara's Cathedral and the Jesuit College.

  
  
• On the roof of Corpus Christi Chapel 🔗[Map]

  
  

  On the roof, you can see Church of St. James and the town.
  
  

  

  Corpus Christi Chapel

  
  
2. St. Barbara's Cathedral 🔗[Map]
• After seeing so many churches and cathedrals in Czechia, I still fount St. Barbara's Cathedral to be very, very beautiful!
• Opening Hours
• January–February: 10:00–16:00
• March: 10:00–17:00
• April–October: 09:00–18:00
• November–December: 10:00–17:00
• Admission Options
• Church of St. Barbara: CZK 180
• Sedlec Ossuary + Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec + Church of St. Barbara: CZK 360 👍 Highly recommend!
• Guided tours are available but must be booked in advance.

  
  

  St. Barbara's Cathedral
  
  

  

  St. Barbara's Cathedral

  
  

  

  St. Barbara's Cathedral

  
  

  

  History of St. Barbara's Cathedral

  
  
3. Czech Museum of Silver 🔗[Map]
• Opening Hours
• January: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00–16:00
• March–May: Tuesday–Saturday, 09:00–17:00
• June: Tuesday–Saturday, 09:00–18:00
• July–August: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00–18:00
• September: Tuesday–Saturday, 09:00–18:00
• October–December: Tuesday–Saturday, 09:00–17:00
• Tours
• Online Booking
• Tour 1–The Town of Silver: Self-guided tour, CZK 90
• Tour 2–The Way of Silver: Guided tour, CZK 160, 90 minutes
• Tour 1+Tour 2: CZK 190
4. Italian Court 🔗[Map]
• Once a royal mint and palace, it was named after the Italian experts who led the minting reform.
• Opening Hours
• January–February: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–16:00
• March: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–17:00
• April–September: Monday–Sunday, 09:00–18:00
• October–November: Monday–Sunday, 10:00–17:00
• December: Monday–Sunday, 10:00–16:00
• Tours
• Tour 1–The Mystery of the Lost Silver/Cellar: Self-guided tour, CZK 50
• Tour 2–Royal Mint: Self-guided tour, CZK 120
• Tour 3–Royal Place: Guided tour, CZK 190
• Tour 4–Italian Court (Tour1+2+3): Guided tour, CZK 300
• Experience–Make your own Prague groschen: Guided tour, CZK 60
• Note: This must be booked in advance.
• Storytour: Guided tour, CZK 200

  
  

  Italian Court
  
  

  

  Italian Court Tour Route

  
  
5. Church of St. James 🔗[Map]
• Opening Hours
• January and April: Friday–Sunday, 10:00–12:30, 13:00–15:30
• February–March: Friday–Sunday, 10:00–12:00, 12:30–15:30
• May: Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00–12:30, 13:00–17:00
• June and September: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–12:30, 13:00–17:00
• July–August: Monday–Sunday, 10:00–12:30, 13:00–17:00
• October: Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00–12:30, 13:00–15:30
• November–December: Friday–Sunday, 10:00–12:30, 13:00–15:30

  
  

  Church of St. James

  
  
6. Jesuit College – Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region 🔗[Map]
   
   

   

   Jesuit College
   
   

   

   Statues in front of Jesuit College

   
   
7. Gothic Stone Fountain 🔗[Map]
8. Plague Column 🔗[Map]

   
   

   Plague Column

   
   
9. The Three Kings House 🔗[Map]

   
   

   The Three Kings House

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