Kutna Hora and the Skeletons

Big Broad here, coming to you from the fourth story of The Tri Bubnu Hotel.  As promised, today's post is about our road trip adventure in the lovely Czech Republic.  We took a tour bus to Kutna Hora, a charming little town of 20,000 sitting atop of what was once the largest silver mine in all of Europe.

Our guide was this spry, tiny Czech woman who knew more about medieval history than she had time to share it with us; but she tried her best.  Our tour started at the Sedlec Bone Church.  This little church looks like any other old church on the outside (cemetery included) but when you walk inside you realize just how special it is.  The bone remains of 40,000 people decorate the walls and ceilings! Yep, you read that right.  About 400 years ago it became necessary to find a place for the many skeletons of the victims of 14th century plagues and 15th century wars.  Artists were commissioned to decorate the interior of the church with these grizzly materials.  Consequently, there is a bone chandelier, a bone coat-of-arms, four bone pyramids and other assorted bone structures within the walls of this tiny church.  All of us were awed but a little creeped out by the scene.  Thankfully, we didn't spend much time there.

We were then taken to a well preserved center of town and given a very fast-paced walking tour.  We saw buildings originating from the 12th and 13th centuries, a beautiful monument commemorating the end of the plagues, a 15th century stone fountain that was used as a fresh-water holding tank, and two or three small churches in various stages of renovation.  We had lunch in the courtyard of an extremely old building (the food was authentic Czech fare that Linda will have to describe to you on another occasion).

The last stop was, to me, the most impressive: we were taken to St. Barbara's Cathedral.  This cathedral was founded in 1388 by the silver miners and named for their patron saint.  The elaborate interior depicted the town's riches and importance within the kingdom.  There are beautiful frescoes, stained glass windows, carved wood altars in several chapels, as well as 17th century pews, a stunningly beautiful altar, and impressive pipe organ.  We hope the pictures give you a glimpse of just how amazing this cathedral is.

The tour bus brought us back to town and we decided to dine at the Brazilian restaurant by our hotel.  The food was delicious, the drinks were fabulous, and the dessert and coffee was a nice ending to another wonderful day in old Praha. And, yes, all was right with the world.

Tomorrow we get the royal treatment; dobro noc (buenas noches to you).