Kutná Hora

Тhe history of Kutná Hora began in the 13th century. Exceptionally rich seams of silver ore were discovered in the second half of the 13th century in the hills above the river Vrchlice. Mining started immediately, its profits soon put the Czech kings on the list of the richest rulers in Europe. From 1300 – 1547 the local mint coined the famous Bohemian (Prague) groschen, one of the strongest currencies in medieval Europe.

A new royal mining town began to grow and gradually it became a treasury of medieval and Baroque architecture. One of the first buildings in Kutná Hora was the Royal Court, called later Vlašský (Italian) Court. A pearl of Czech Gothic architecture is the Church of St. Barbara, which is only just behind St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague in terms of importance. Among places of religious importance the outstanding Gothic Church of St. Jakub must be mentioned as well as the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Gothic Stone House today houses the town museum. Another jewel is the late-Gothic stone fountain.

Baroque buildings worthy of attention includes The Jesuit College fronted by gallery of statues, the Church of St. Johanes Nepomucensis or the Ursuline Convent. We must also mention the unique Church of the Assumption of Our Lady in Baroque-Gothic style in Sedlec and an ossuary nearby. The centre of the town is now inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The history of the town is connected with silver. In the Czech Museum of Silver in residence Hrádek, you can visit a real medieval silver mine.