Kutná Hora, the silver treasury and a true gem of the country, was present at the very start of the boom in the Czech Kingdom. Architectural styles, unique buildings from various historical periods and a long history full of wine making. This is precisely what you will find in Kutná Hora, a city whose historical centre with the Cathedral of St. Barbara and Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary have been included in the UNESCO world heritage list
Kutná Hora was one of the main pillars of power of the Czech rulers. Under the reign of Wenceslas II, the only mint in the country operated here. This former royal city, linked with silver mining and the dominant features of its two cathedrals, also offers a remarkable present.
The Cathedral of St. Barbara, patron saint of miners
This unique work of high and late Gothic architecture symbolises the power and importance of the mining city, which is linked to deposits of silver ore. The cathedral is consecrated to none other than the patron saint of all miners, St. Barbara. Construction of this architectural gem took five hundred long years. The appearance of the monumental cathedral is the work of Matyáš Rejsek and Benedikt Ried.
The interior will enchant you with its late Gothic and Renaissance paintings and there is no denying the mining past of the city even here. The slim elegant pillars are complemented by fresco work decorating the chapel, in which motifs inspired by mining and minting of coins also appear.
The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary – Cathedral of Light
There is a good reason why the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is known as the Cathedral of Light. The massive windows were unprecedented in Bohemia at their time. This architectural gem combines the Cistercian emphasis on space and poverty and the Gothic majesty of a cathedral. The whole building is illuminated every minute of the day by the sunlight and carried to ethereal heights. The originally Gothic church, which was burned to the ground in the 15th century, was converted into a cathedral in the style of the Baroque Gothic by the eminent Czech architect Jan Blažej Santini.
Enjoy a tour of monuments which are included in the UNESCO list and immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of this city of silver.