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Situated in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, lies a quaint medieval town that transports you back in time. Grand cathedrals, cobblestone lane ways and old world charm, will whisk you away to the deepest depths of your imagination while strolling through the fairy tale streets.
Welcome to Kutná Hora.
Easily accessible as a day trip, I can highly recommend visiting here if you would like to get out of the bustling tourist filled city of Prague. Known for its beautiful Gothic architecture and silver mining history, Kutná Hora is known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
If you plan on taking a trip to the Czech Republic, the best way to know a country is to step outside of its capital city, even if for only a few hours. Kutná Hora is one of those places that when you walk through the streets, you can’t help but imagine what life was like back during the Middle Ages.
For those that have never heard of Kutná Hora, here are some tips on what to see and do as a day trip from Prague.
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Getting To Kutná Hora
A day trip to Kutná Hora is easy and accessible from Prague. With an hourly train that departs Prague’s main train station hourly, you’re choices are endless when choosing the perfect time of day to visit. From my experience, I do suggest catching the earlier train there, to allow yourself time to get to Kutná Hora early and be able to explore the town with less tourists. If the train isn’t your thing, you can always drive there as well. Situated just 70 kms from Prague, it typically will take less than one hour to arrive, however, that’s with traffic pending of course. There are also multiple bus lines that can whisk you to Kutná Hora with ease as well. The train will stop at Kutná Hora’s main station, however, just note that you will not be in the centre of Kutná Hora upon arriving. The city centre is located about a 3 km walk, but keep reading if you plan on visiting the famous Bone Chapel. Train tickets are easily purchased online through the České dráhy website.
Read more: A Travel Guide To Plzeň, Czech Republic
Saint Barbara’s Church & Jesuit College Terrace
This is without a doubt, the main star of Kutná Hora. Saint Barbara’s Church, or Chrám svaté Barbory, is one of the most jaw-dropping Roman Catholic Cathedrals in Europe and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its architectural uniqueness. The exterior is certainly impressive, however make sure to step foot inside as well. Construction began 1388, but because work on the church was interrupted several times, it actually wasn’t completed until 1905. Talk about a delay. As if the Cathedral wasn’t large enough, the original design of it was actually for a much larger church, almost twice the size. Construction depended on the success of the town’s silver mining industry at that time. The impressive Jesuit College (Jezuitská Kolej) next to the Cathedral, is an Early Baroque building and was designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Domenico Orsi. The construction of the Jesuit College was started in 1667 and completed only in 1750, which was many years after Orsi’s death. In 1773, the Jesuit Order was disbanded in Bohemia and the building was taken over by the military and used as a training center. Today, it serves as the Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region and is the home to modern and temporary art. The stunning terrace is lined with numerous statues and makes for the perfect photo with the Cathedral as the backdrop. Make sure to take a moment to walk around the interior and check out the intricate ceiling, colourful frescoes and don’t miss out on checking out the view from the top of the Cathedral, which is not for the faint of heart if you’re afraid of heights. There is also a tiny door that opens up to a balcony outside, that provides great views of the surrounding area.
Sedlec Ossuary (Sedlecká Kostnice)
Another country, another bone chapel has been ticked off my list. 🙂 Remember earlier when I had mentioned the train station stop is NOT in the city centre, but if you wanted to visit the bone chapel, then you’d be best to arrive at the main station? Well, this is why. The Sedlec Ossuary is located beneath the cemetery church of All Saints and is part of the former Sedlec Abbey in Sedlec, which is a tiny suburb within Kutná Hora. It is estimated to contain the skeletons of between 40,000 and 70,000 people, whose bones have, in many cases, been artistically arranged to form decorations an furnishings for the chapel. As morbid as it may seem, having the opportunity to see something like this is beyond intriguing on so many levels. The Ossuary is among the most visited tourist attraction not only in Kutná Hora, but in all of the Czech Republic, drawing over 200,000 visitors from around the world. I made sure to donate to the chapel, since I did sneak a few pictures (sorry), which aren’t recommended to take. I reserved a ticket for the Ossuary and Saint Barbara’s Cathedral as a combo ticket, which ran me about $18 CAD and it is good to use as a one time entry for up to a full year after purchase date, which is a great option! I highly suggest visiting the Ossuary because even if it may seem creepy to others, it’s certainly one of the most unique attractions I’ve been to.
St. James Church
The Church of St. James, other Kostel sv. Jakuba, is the oldest stone church in Kutná Hora and was intended as the spiritual centre of the entire town since the beginning of its establishment in the town. Its construction began in 1330 and ended in 1420. The church was originally projected with two towers but it soon turned out that the ground beneath was too unstable due to silver mining to hold both. The church is located in the very heart of the medieval Kutná Hora and the 86 metre tall tower is visible from afar and serves as an important point of orientation for the wider area. The best point of view in my opinion, is from the Terrace of the Jesuit College up at Saint Barbara’s Church. Make sure to take the time to peek inside as well, to take in the quietness of the church and to marvel at all of the details at the alter.
Gothic Stone Fountain
The stone fountain, known as Kamenná kašna, is a beautiful piece of Kutná Hora’s history. The intensive mining activity in Kutná Hora during the Middle Ages disrupted the underground water sources, which then resulted in the town being short of clean drinking water. The problem was solved in 1495 when they constructed an intricate dodecagon (a 12 sided polygon) shaped stone fountain, in what is known as today as Rejsek Square. Make sure to take a peek through the hole in the door to see some cool sculptures inside.
The House Of The Three Kings
Dum U Tri Kralu, also known as The House of the Three Kings, is a cute little house with painted frescoes on the facade. These paintings depict three Bohemian kings; Wenceslaus II, Vladislaus II and Wenceslaus IV. Located just outside of the Italian Court, I stumbled upon the house purely by accident. The bright and colourful paintings certainly stand out in an otherwise ordinary side street in Kutná Hora. It’s worth a look if in the area.
Wander The Streets
One of the best things you can do in Kutná Hora is just let yourself get a little lost in its tiny cobblestone streets. The town is full of narrow alleys, old buildings, and quiet corners that you won’t find on any map or in any guidebook. Wandering without a plan lets you soak in the atmosphere, stumble across cozy cafés, and catch glimpses of local life. It’s the kind of place where getting lost feels more like discovering something special around each turn.
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Where To Eat
Kutná Hora may be a small town, but it offers a surprisingly wide variety of places to eat. Whether you’re in the mood for hearty Czech classics at a traditional tavern, or something lighter from a cozy café tucked down a side street, there’s something here for every craving. You’ll find everything from family-run spots serving up homemade dumplings and goulash, or if you’re just looking for a quick bite, or a good cup of coffee, the town is full of charming little cafés and bakeries. No matter your taste, Kutná Hora has something delicious waiting for you. Here are a few places to Czech out…see what I did there? 😉
Restaurace V Ruthardce: If you’re in the mood for a traditional Czech meal, look no further than Restaurace V Ruthardce. Within a few moments of stepping foot inside the restaurant, it will make you feel as if you’ve been transported back to medieval times. The service is great and the portions are large. This restaurant had some of the best Svíčková I had during my entire trip. There is even a cute little terrace outside, however when I was there, the weather wasn’t exactly patio appropriate, but if you’re thee during a sunny warm day, it’d be perfect.
Café Dačický: As you’re walking through the side streets, you’ll have an overwhelming scent of coffee hit you like a ton of delicious bricks. Café Dačický is a warm, cozy and ultra inviting café that also serves up some delicious treats, hand crafted chocolates and even wine. On a cool and crisp day, sitting outdoors with a hot flat white while people watching before making my way back to the train station was the perfect way to end my day in Kutná Hora.
The Blues Café: Coffee and music lovers, rejoice! This adorable little coffee shop and café has the best of both worlds all in one place. Although I didn’t visit, mainly due to lack of timing with my train schedule, the Blues Café has great reviews and seems like a place I’ll need to visit if I ever return to Kutná Hora. The exterior alone made me want to stop and snap a photo!
If you’re looking to take a day trip while visiting Prague, I highly suggest taking a few hours out of your day and heading out to the stunning little town of Kutná Hora. From the haunting beauty of the Sedlec Ossuary to the grandeur of St. Barbara’s Cathedral and the charming cobblestone streets of the old town, this UNESCO-listed gem offers a rich and rewarding escape from the bustle of the capital. Give yourself about a half a day and visit the Czech Museum Silver and also, take a peak at the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist, which located just a few steps away from the Sedlec Ossuary. Will you be visiting on your next Czech trip? Let me know in the comments below. xo
