Kutná Hora
Updated October 19, 2026
Also known as: Kutna Hora, Kuttenberg, Silver Town
Main Landmarks in Kutná Hora
History
Kutná Hora lies in Central Bohemia, about 70 km east of Prague, on a plateau above the Vrchlice valley. In 1142 the Cistercian monastery of Sedlec, the first in Bohemia, was founded nearby. In the second half of the 13th century, rich silver deposits were discovered, according to legend by a monk who fell asleep and woke to find silver bars where he had laid his cowl, and a mining boom began, attracting miners from Germany. By the early 14th century, Kutná Hora was one of the richest towns in Europe, producing about a third of Europe's silver, and in 1300 King Wenceslas II established the royal mint at the Italian Court, where Italian experts helped create the Prague groschen, a silver coin used across Central Europe for centuries. The town became the second most important in Bohemia after Prague, and kings sometimes lived here. In 1409 King Wenceslas IV signed the Decree of Kutná Hora, which gave Czechs control of Charles University. During the Hussite Wars, Kutná Hora was captured and burned, in 1422, and in 1485 the religious peace of Kutná Hora was agreed here. Mining declined from the 16th century, after floods in the mines and the discovery of silver in the Americas, and the mint closed in 1727. In 1995 the historic centre, St Barbara's Cathedral and the Sedlec church were listed by UNESCO. Today about 21,000 people live in the town.
Culture
Kutná Hora's culture is shaped by its silver-mining past, which made it a medieval boom town and left an extraordinary heritage of Gothic and Baroque buildings, funded by the wealth of mine owners, merchants and the Church. The Cathedral of St Barbara, dedicated to the patron saint of miners, has frescoes showing miners at work and coin minting, and miners' traditions, such as the miner's greeting Zdař Bůh, God bless, survive in local festivals. Every June, the Royal Silver Festival, Královské stříbření Kutné Hory, recreates the town's medieval glory with a procession of the king, knights and miners in historic costumes, markets, music, tournaments and fireworks. The town is quieter than Prague, with a slower, provincial pace, cafés on its squares and locals who are proud of their history. Many visitors come for the Sedlec Ossuary, a chapel decorated with human bones, which has made Kutná Hora famous worldwide and attracts more than half a million visitors a year, but many leave without seeing the rest of the town, which local guides encourage them to explore. Kutná Hora also has a wine tradition, with vineyards on the slopes below St Barbara's, revived in recent decades, and the Gothic Stone House, a rich merchant's home, hosts exhibitions of local life. Classical concerts take place in the cathedral and churches in summer.
Climate
Spring
0–19°C
March to May is fresh, with temperatures rising from about 8°C in March to 19°C in May, blossoming orchards and fewer to…
Summer
12–25°C
June to August is warm, with days of about 23–26°C and occasional thunderstorms. The Royal Silver Festival in June bring…
Autumn
1–19°C
September to November brings mild days of about 19°C in September, falling to about 6°C in November, golden leaves in th…
Winter
-4–2°C
December to February is cold, with days of about 0–3°C, frosty nights and occasional snow. The ossuary and cathedral rem…
Fun Facts
A chandelier made of every bone
The Sedlec Ossuary has a chandelier said to contain at least one of every bone in the human body, hanging in the centre …
Soil from the Holy Land
In 1278 the abbot of Sedlec, Heidenreich, was sent to the Holy Land by King Ottokar II and brought back a handful of soi…
A coin used across Europe
The Prague groschen, a silver coin first minted in 1300 at the Italian Court in Kutná Hora, became one of the most impor…
A cathedral of miners
The Cathedral of St Barbara, begun in 1388 and completed only in 1905, was built by the town's miners and burghers, not …
Miners dressed in white
Medieval miners in Kutná Hora wore white hooded robes, so that they could see each other in the dark mines, and the Czec…
Baroque Gothic in Sedlec
The Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and St John the Baptist in Sedlec, built around 1300, one of the first Gothi…
Local Cuisine in Kutná Hora
Practical Travel Information
Transport & Accessibility
International Transport
The nearest international airport is Václav Havel Airport Prague, about 85 km away, about 1.5 hours by car or train via Prague's main station. Trains from Prague hlavní nádraží reach Kutná Hora hlavní nádraží, in Sedlec, in about one hour, with frequent services. Buses from Prague's Háje station also run to Kutná Hora. Many tour operators offer day trips from Prague, including transport and guides. Check timetables in advance, especially on public holidays. Allow extra time at peak hours. Check return train times in advance.
Local Transport
Kutná Hora's historic centre is compact and walkable, with cobbled streets. The main railway station, Kutná Hora hlavní nádraží, is in Sedlec, close to the ossuary, and a local train runs from there to Kutná Hora město station, near the centre, in about 10 minutes. Local buses connect Sedlec with the centre. Walking from the ossuary to St Barbara's takes about 30–40 minutes. Taxis are available. Parking is available near the sights. Check timetables in advance, especially on public holidays.
Safety & Health
Personal Safety
Kutná Hora is very safe, with low crime. Normal precautions apply in crowded places, such as the ossuary, during peak hours. Cobbled streets and steep paths can be slippery in rain and winter. The medieval mine tour involves narrow, low and wet tunnels, so it is not suitable for people with claustrophobia, mobility problems or heart conditions. Children must be old enough to follow the safety rules. In an emergency, call 112. Most visits are trouble-free with basic precautions. Keep emergency numbers saved on your phone.
Medical Services
Kutná Hora has a regional hospital, Oblastní nemocnice Kolín, Kutná Hora branch, and medical centres for common problems, while Prague, about one hour away, has larger hospitals. EU citizens can use the European Health Insurance Card, and non-EU visitors need travel insurance. Pharmacies are in the centre. Tap water is safe to drink. Call 155 for an ambulance. Carry your insurance details and any personal medicines. Keep a small first-aid kit for day trips. Pharmacists can advise on minor problems.
Budget & Costs
Travel Costs
Kutná Hora is affordable, cheaper than Prague. A guesthouse costs about 1,000–1,800 CZK, a mid-range hotel 1,800–3,000 CZK per night. A pub meal costs about 180–300 CZK, and a restaurant dinner 300–600 CZK. The ossuary costs about 200–300 CZK, St Barbara's 200–250 CZK, the Italian Court 150–250 CZK and the silver mine 150–300 CZK, with combined tickets offering savings. A return train ticket from Prague costs about 200–300 CZK. A mid-range traveller should budget about 1,500–2,500 CZK per day. Prices rise noticeably in the high season.
Budget Tips
Buy a combined ticket for the ossuary and the cathedrals. Travel by train from Prague, which is cheap and fast, rather than joining an expensive organised tour. Walk between the sights, enjoying the views. Eat lunch menus in local restaurants. Stay overnight in a guesthouse to see the town after day-trippers leave. Visit on weekdays to avoid tour groups. Walking is free and often the best way to explore. Booking early usually secures better prices. Bring water and snacks for the walk between Sedlec and the centre.
Culture & Traditions
Social Norms
Kutná Hora residents are friendly and proud of their history. Behave respectfully in the ossuary and churches, keeping your voice down, not touching the bones and following photography rules. Greet with dobrý den when entering shops and restaurants. Dress modestly in churches. Tip by rounding up or adding about 10%. Respect religious services, which may close churches to visitors. A few words of the local language are always appreciated. Patience and a smile go a long way. Turn off flash in churches.
Cultural Activities
Attend the Royal Silver Festival in June. Take the medieval mine tour in a miner's coat. Learn about coin minting at the Italian Court. Visit the GASK gallery. Attend summer concerts in St Barbara's Cathedral. Taste local wine. Visit the Stone House museum. Walk the town's Baroque streets. Join a guided tour of the town's history. Attend Christmas markets in December. Check local listings for free events during your stay. Ask your hotel about seasonal festivals. Try a glass of local wine at sunset.
Unique Experiences in Kutná Hora
Visit the Sedlec Ossuary at opening time, before tour groups arrive, to see the chandelier said to contain every bone in the human body, the garlands of skulls and the Schwarzenberg coat of arms made of bones, in a quiet, reflective atmosphere. Tickets cost about 200–300 CZK. Arrive at about 9:00.
Put on a white miner's coat, a helmet and a lamp, and descend into a medieval silver mine at the Czech Silver Museum, walking through narrow tunnels about 250 m long, where miners worked by hand. Tickets cost about 150–300 CZK. Open from April to November. Book in advance.
Walk along Barborská Street, past Baroque statues and the Jesuit College, to the Cathedral of St Barbara, and see frescoes of miners and minters, then admire the flying buttresses and tent-like roofs from the terrace at sunset. The cathedral costs about 200–250 CZK. Go in the late afternoon.
Join the Royal Silver Festival in June, when the town celebrates its silver-mining past with a procession of the king, knights, miners and townspeople in historic costumes, medieval markets, music, tournaments and fireworks. Most events are free. Book accommodation in advance.
Learn how silver groschen coins were minted by hand at the Italian Court, the former royal mint, then visit the royal chapel and audience hall, where the Decree of Kutná Hora was signed in 1409. Tickets cost about 150–250 CZK. Join a guided tour in English, available at set times.
Travel Recommendations for Kutná Hora
Spend a full day in Kutná Hora, or stay overnight, to see more than the Sedlec Ossuary. Visit St Barbara's Cathedral, th…
Start at the Sedlec Ossuary, near the main railway station, early in the morning, then visit the Sedlec Cathedral and ta…
Buy a combined ticket for the ossuary, the Sedlec Cathedral and St Barbara's Cathedral to save money, and check opening …
Travel by train from Prague, about one hour, which is cheaper and more flexible than organised tours. Check whether your…
Respect the ossuary as a place of burial, not a tourist attraction, by speaking quietly, not touching the bones and foll…