If you are looking for a place to spend a day away from the business of Prague, the town of Kutna Hora will serve you a real history treat. This gem, situated in Central Bohemia, holds many famous historic sites: Seldec abbey, St. Barbara Church and the Ossuary, to name a few. The development of the town begins with the Seldec Abby which was the first Cistercian monastery in Bohemia, back in 1142. According to legend, its graveyard is considered a Holy Ground as the first abbot of Seldec supposedly brought dirt from Jerusalem which he then sprayed over the land. When visiting this monastery one should certainly pay a visit to the Ossuary, a small Roman Catholic chapel. It is unique for its chandelier and other arts made entirely of human bones. Unquestionably, a site that leaves you speechless but still sends chills down your spine.
But there is still more to see in the surrounding area. Those wanting to experience a real fairy tale can visit the amazing Žleby and Český Šternberk castles. The Žleby castle will impress you with its vast fortune of antiquities dating from the Renaissance to the 20th century. On the other hand, the Český Šternberk castle, now the home of the agriculture museum, can take you on a journey across the history of architecture since it was rebuilt several times throughout centuries. Before some final thoughts, another beauty of the region should be mentioned- the Kačina chateau. Famous for its library and park, this Empire style mansion shows the taste of its rich and influential builders- the Chotek family. Fun fact, it was even used as a film set for The Scarlet Pimpernel, a miniseries revolving around a fictional character who saved numerous aristocrats from the guillotine during the French revolution.
Furthermore, the tours usually take up the entire day and are guided allowing you to get the most of your experience. Since history lessons from Central Bohemia will certainly leave you hungry, most tours include lunch so you will get a bite of the local cuisine- what a way to round up the entire experience!
The trips might seem exhausting considering the long list of stopping points, but these are really worth the time not only because of their rich history but because of their undeniable beauty!