The Bone Church (Ossuary) in Kutná Hora
Kutná Hora might be most well known for its creepy and eerie “Bone Church,” which is filled with bones and skulls from some 40,000 people, dating back to the 17th Century.
One of the reasons for the influx of bodies is that during the 13th century, the abbot of Sedlec monastery (Jindřich,), returned from a visit to Palestine with a pocketful of soil. The abbot sprinkled the holy soil on the cemetery surrounding the Chapel. Since this soil was associated with the holy land, it led to heightened interest in the graveyard, becoming a sought after burial site among Central European nobility.
At the time of the thirty years’ war in the 17th century, the number of burials outgrew the space available, the older remains began to be exhumed and stored in the chapel. The bones were placed in tombs and also used for decoration. The centerpiece is a massive chandelier, all made from the bones of some 40,000 people. It would be a challenge for Halloween enthusiasts to find a spookier place to visit. In addition to the chandelier, the other highlight is probably the Schwarzenberg coat-of-arms, again, all made from bones and skulls.
Click the following link for more information on the Kutná Hora Bone Church. http://www.myczechrepublic.com/kutna-hora/sedlec-ossuary.html If you’ve ever been to the Bone Church, please leave a comment below and share your experience.
Mike Shubic
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2 Comments
This is well worth a side trip from Prague. The town is beautiful and its cathedral was built by many of the same craftsmen who constructed the Prague Castle.
Hi John…thanks for stopping by and sharing. I have to agree.