Visiting the Kutná Hora Bone Church from Prague (2024)

The Sedlec Ossuary in Kutná Hora, more commonly known as the “Bone Church,” is one of the Czech Republic’s most visited tourist destinations. It makes a lot of sense: where else can you find a Roman Catholic chapel decorated with skeletons?

It’s an unusual landmark that appeals to people on different levels. Some visit for the spookiness of a chapel constructed entirely out of bones. Others visit for the religious experience of this famous ossuary.

I visited because my friend suggested the day trip from Prague. Otherwise, I don’t think I’d have had the guts to venture to this incredible site.

To help you decide if it’s worth it to visit the Kutna Hora Bone Church from Prague, I’m sharing some interesting facts I learned and my own experience coming face to face with skeletons from the 1200s. 

👉 I recommend this tour of Kutna Hora from Prague

Where is the church made of bones?

Although macabre locations like the Sedlec Ossuary exist across Europe, none are quite like this church of bones. You can visit the bone church in Kutna Hora, a town about 1 hour from Prague by bus.

A visit to this historic city is an excellent day trip. You can explore the bone church before heading into the town to discover its rich mining history and delicious Czech food.

👉 I recommend this tour of Kutna Hora from Prague

What is an ossuary and what is its purpose?

Ossuary is a general term for any structure or site made to contain skeletal remains. It literally means a “depository for the bones of the dead”. These are typically above-ground chambers in Europe where the bones are placed after they have been cleaned.

Initially the body will be buried so that it can decompose. Once only bones remain, it is exhumed, cleaned and stored in an ossuary. This is a space-saving way to entomb multiple individuals in a smaller area. In the case of the Sedlec Ossuary, the bones were exhumed because the cemetery was full. They could have been transferred to a tomb, but were instead used to create this stunning Bone Church.

Other famous Ossuaries include:

• “James” Ossuary in Israel
• Hallstatt Bone House in Austria
• Douaumont Ossuary in France

If you’re interested in spooky sites like the Sedlec Ossuary or the Catacombs of France, check out the 10 Most Haunted Places in Canada.

👉 I recommend this tour of Kutna Hora from Prague

Why was the chapel of bones built?

The Bone Church began as a cemetery in the 1100s. Kutná Hora was a rich mining town with many dying in the mines.

The Sedlec Catholic church grounds first became popular in the late 1200s, because an abbot sprinkled dirt from the Holy Land around the cemetery. Sedlec quickly became a desirable final resting place for people across Central Europe. Apparently, dirt from the Holy Land was the “it” thing for your grave in the 13th century.

The cemetery grew exponentially during the Black Death and the Hussite wars that decimated Central Europe’s population.

In the 1400s, a Gothic church with an ossuary was constructed within the cemetery. The new Sedlec Ossuary was created because they needed room in the cemetery to bury new bodies. They exhumed the remains of those currently in the cemetery and planned to transfer them to a traditional ossuary – typically a tomb or small site where multiple bodies could be stored.

Legend has it that in 1511 a half-blind monk was given the task of exhuming and sorting the skeletal remains. He is the one credited with preserving the skeletons and not putting them away in a tomb, as he was supposed to. This allowed the remains to be repurposed for their current state.

In 1870, the Schwarzenberg family who owned the land, commissioned František Rint, a woodworker, to order the bones. This is when the Bone Church finally earned its name.

Rint used the estimated 40 to 70,000 skeletons to create a chillingdisplay that now draws over 200,000 visitors a year. He took the initiative to create fascinating works of art in the ossuary.

Bones decorate the entire chapel: from the entrance to the archways tothe ceilings. He constructed four large altars by stacking bones. They are each topped with a large golden crown and embellished with human skulls. 

He designed a skeletal version of the crest of his patrons, the Schwarzenberg’s. It is almost as tall as the altars. A person seems to be emerging from the crest with a bird on his shoulder.

Rint even signed his masterpiece with a signature made entirely of bones.

The Bone Church’s crowning glory is the chandelier in the middle of the ossuary. It is said to contain every bone in the human body. The candles meant to light the room rest atop human skulls with cavernous eyes.

The chandelier is surrounded by four columns stacked with human skulls. They are topped with Catholic cherubs, serenely playing their instruments as though they aren’t sitting on top of half a dozen skulls.

The Bone Church is inside of a still-functioning cemetery at Sedlec. People visit their ancestors while thousands of visitors flock to the chapel to count the bones in the chandelier.

👉 I recommend this tour of Kutna Hora from Prague

Why Visit Sedlec Ossuary, The Bone Church Of Prague?

There are many reasons to visit a site that can be considered dark. In fact, there’s a whole wave of tourism known as “dark tourism”, where individuals visit historical sites of tragedy. If you’ve visited sites like Auschwitz, you’ve participated in this form of tourism.

There’s nothing wrong with visiting a spooky or creepy place.

In fact, because the bones at Kutna Hora’s Bone Church belong to individuals from over 3 centuries ago, who didn’t die of malicious means as far as we know, there’s less of a somber note when you visit.

It’s more of a macabre fascination.

But the Sedlec Ossuary was initially a pilgrimage destintion for Christians. They would visit to show their respect.

So, by visiting the Bone Church of Prague, you’re actually paying homage to those who perished and were used to create a work of art, rather than being stored in a box in a church basement.

👉 I recommend this tour of Kutna Hora from Prague

My Visit to Kutna Hora’s Sedlec Ossuary

Most people call the Bone Church “macabre.” I found a haunting beauty in exploring the small chapel. Every bone was precisely placed, achieving an unsettling symmetry.

It is definitely the most unusual Roman Catholic building I have ever seen.

You enter the chapel by heading down a set of stairs, passing chalices built of pelvises and skulls with your first steps.

The underground chapel was almost as cold as outside. It was dim with a golden glow from the lights. Although it was crowded, it wasn’t hard to move. There was a steady flow of people from one altar to the next. The flash of cameras and voice of guides didn’t break the surprising tranquility of the Bone Church.

I’m very superstitious and terrified of basically everything. Usually, that would extend to human bones, but, oddly, I wasn’t scared. It felt strangely peaceful to wander through the Sedlec Ossuary, catching the stares of vacant skulls.

The famous bone chandelier was the most captivating feature of the church. I stood beneath it for at least ten minutes, counting teeth still stuck in the skulls. My friend and I tried to find every human bone within the chandelier, but we couldn’t spot them all.

(Granted, she did most of the spotting. My anatomy knowledge is basically limited to heads, shoulders, knees, and toes.)

I kept wondering about the bones we were marvelling at. Were any of them ghosts? (I really didn’t want to be haunted.) And why had Rint decided that this was the best way to organize bones? Surely, stacking them in boxes would have been more efficient.

Whatever his reasoning, I’m sort of glad. Without Rint, we wouldn’t have the Bone Church – my favourite spot in the Czech Republic.

This unique day trip from Prague isn’t always on a backpacker’s list, but it really should be. You get a better sense of the Czech history from visiting the mining town of Kutna Hora and seeing this fascinating bone church. 

👉 I recommend this tour of Kutna Hora from Prague

Important Things to Know Before visiting the Kutna Hore Bone Church

• Photography and videos are not allowed (since 2020)
• Be respectful. This is a religious and historical site. Photography was banned due to dangerous and rude selfie trends, like putting hats on the skeletons
• If you aren’t visiting with a tour guide, you can drive or take the train from Prague
• If you aren’t visiting with a tour, visit the Bone Church in the early morning or late evening to avoid crowds
• It is chilly in the Bone Church as it’s slightly underground. Bring a shawl or sweater so you don’t get cold
• Don’t forget to visit Kutna Hora town after you visit the Bone Church. You can walk a pretty, historic Czech village, have a delicious meal, and explore the beautiful Cathedral to turn your half day trip into a full day excursion

👉 I recommend this tour of Kutna Hora from Prague

How do I get to bone church from Prague?

Kutná Hora and the Bone Church are located just over an hour outside of Prague. Touring the chapel doesn’t take more than an hour, even with a guide.

You can find your own way there or take one of the many guided tours offered. I took Sandeman’s New Europe Day Trip to Kutná Hora. The tour costs 30 Euros for adults, 26 euros for students. It included additional sites in the city of Kutná Hora, but they paled in comparison to the Bone Church.

If you prefer to tour the Bone Church at your own pace, rent a car in Prague and drive to Kutna Hora. 

Alternatively, you can take a train to Kutna Hora from Prague’s main station. You will have to walk about 2.5km from the station to the Bone Church. This walk is slightly uphill, so be prepared for a little bit of an incline.

There are buses that shorten the walk from Kutna Hora station. Catch the 11 or the 15 to “Sedlec Tabak” to reach the church.

Opening Times and Tickets

The Sedlec Ossuary is open from 8am – 6pm from April to September. In October and March, it is open from 9am – 5pm. From November to February, the church is open from 9am – 12pm and 1pm – 4pm.

The Sedlec Ossuary is closed on Christmas.

It only costs 90 CZK to enter the bone church (about 3.20 Euros) for adults.

👉 I recommend this tour of Kutna Hora from Prague

Bone Church Prague Tour

I visited the Bone Church from Prague with a bus tour run by Sandeman’s Europe. Most visitors opt to go by a tour to get more information about the church’s construction and the town’s history. 

There are many tour providers that offer tours including transport to and from the city. They vary from half a day to a full day trip.

👉 I recommend this tour of Kutna Hora from Prague

Is Kutna Hora worth visiting?

Yes. Kutna Hora, home to the Bone Church of Prague, is definitely a must-see site in the Czech Republic.

Although it’s mostly known as a haunted destination that’s creepy to see, I argue that it’s a unique historic experience. You will definitely never forget walking through a chapel filled with bones, stacked intricately to create works of art. I can still see the bone-raven on the family crest clearly in my mind.

Travel is all about seeing unique things and experiencing a culture differently. Taking a day trip from Prague to the Sedlec Ossuary is just that. This bucket list experience will inspire any traveller, even those like me who are usually creeped out by all things skeletal.

On your next visit to Prague, be sure to plan 1 day to visit the Kutna Hora Bone Church.

👉 I recommend this tour of Kutna Hora from Prague

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