The medieval, historic town centre of Kutná Hora as a testament of it’s silver mining past, the Church of St Barbara and the Church of Our Lady at Sedlec are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just a little over an hour’s drive from Prague, this picturesque town is, for us, the first proof that it’s worth exploring places off the beaten path.
We arrived from Prague in the morning and first explored the streets of Kutná Hora on our own. Perched on the slope of a hill, the impressive St. Barbara’s Cathedral stands as a venerable monument of Gothic architecture and part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Unfortunately, the funds ran out before its completion, so it was left only about half finished. Nevertheless, it remains a truly magnificent sight. Afterwards, we met Kristýna and her colleague Michaela. Their department is responsible for tourism and external relations. They gave us a presentation about their work with UNESCO, highlighting the 30th anniversary celebrations of Kutná Hora’s World Heritage status.
One of the main challenges they face is that most visitors only stay for a single day. They would love to see more tourists spend the night, as Kutná Hora has so much more to offer than just a day trip. Many travelers, ourselves included, tend to underestimate how much time is needed to truly experience the town. There are many more places worth visiting—such as the GASK gallery, the famous Bone Church and charming little coffee shops.
Many thanks to Kristýna and Michaela for their time and warm welcome.
In the afternoon, we departed for Třebíč.
(Note: The Sedlec Church lies lower than the current street level, which is why part of the building is now obscured by the road.)
