One of the asks from our relative was to visit the Sedlec Ossuary. So a plan was made and it seemed that using the train is the easiest way to access the Ossuary as well as the Unesco World Heritage Sites in Kutna Hora in which it resides. The train goes every hour, almost, but sometimes it is every two hours so we really want to catch the one around 10AM.
It takes a bit to find the right ticket office and to make them understand what we want but afterwards with tickets in hand it is time to explore the impressive Central Train Station. And then when we find out where the train arrives we have to make it to the right track which proves more difficult than we expect with multiple trains going in roughly the same direction. We are however careful enough and board the right train – on to Kutna Hora!
But first we have to give our seats to a mother with a child that reserved specific seats. We were not aware that you can do that but either way there are enough seats to go around, at least in this direction. After some minutes we exit the Prague area and start going through the green countryside and we can relax and enjoy the views.
The villages and buildings along the train tracks are not always well maintained, some look like they are crumbling. Many according to the inscriptions on them are still from the Austro-Hungarian times or the interbellic period and they are not yet renovated to modern standards as far as we can see.
The descent from the train into Kutna Hora is controlled chaos. The train is supposed to stop only a couple of minutes so everyone is running around trying to get out in time as well as their child strollers in the case of the families with multiple childrens. However all is well that ends well, as far as we know.
Interestingly the main station of Kutna Hora is actually near Sedlec not near downtown Kutna Hora. We decide to walk on foot first to the Ossuary which is just 10 minutes away and then give a think regarding on how to get into downtown. The walk is easy enough, there is a sidewalk after all, and there are some interesting buildings along the way.
In Sedlec we spend some time trying to understand where to pay and how to get to the Ossuary. Finally we find the right spot to buy tickets and from there is another five minutes walk to the cemetery where the Ossuary is located.
The Ossuary is estimated to contain the skeletons of about 50,000 people, whose bones have in many cases been artistically arranged to form decorations and furnishings for the chapel. It also is as we can easily see one of the most visited tourist attractions of the Czech Republic. The decorations are quite interesting however the chapel is much smaller than we expected, actually the ossuary that we saw in Milan is comparing favorably to the Sedlec one. And it was also much less busy.
The actual chapel is above the Ossuary and we decide to visit it also. It has a window which allows for a different view of the ossuary and the people inside it, quite good for people watching.
The chapel itself is devoid of decorations with a relatively simple altar. We look around a bit, exit on the balcony to take photos and then it is time to return towards the nearby cathedral, included in our ticket and also a World Heritage Site.
On the way we gawk from outside at the Lego Museum which has a fun exhibit also outside and spend some time to buy some garnet jewelry from a conveniently located and relatively cheap jewelry store on the way. And then it is time for the Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady and St. John the Baptist, a much larger cathedral compared to the small chapel we have just visited.
