St. Barbara’s Church
One of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Europe and the dominant landmark of Kutná Hora. It is not only an architectural gem but also a symbol of the wealth and significance of medieval Kutná Hora. The church is dedicated to St. Barbara, the patron saint of miners. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History
Construction of the church began in 1388. The citizens of Kutná Hora wanted to create a representative building that would demonstrate the power and wealth of their city at that time. This decision was also an expression of their desire for independence from the nearby Sedlec Monastery, on whose land Kutná Hora was built. They therefore chose a site outside the city walls, which belonged to the Prague Chapter, and purchased the land. On this site, they first began building a two-story chapel in honor of the Body of Christ and St. Barbara (now the Chapel of Corpus Christi), but later changed their plans, halted this construction, and began building the monumental cathedral next to it.
The construction was financed by wealthy citizens of Kutná Hora and was originally intended to be twice the size of its current form. There was no shortage of donors at the beginning, and soon side chapels were added, transforming the building from an original three-aisled to a five-aisled structure.
Many prominent architects and builders of their time participated in the construction of the church — Peter Parler, Matěj Rejsek, and Benedikt Rejt. Each contributed in a unique way to the church’s final form.
- Peter Parler with his son Jan Parler
- Master Hanuš and Blažek
- Matěj Rejsek contributed to the decoration
- Benedikt Rejt (also known for the Vladislav Hall at Prague Castle)
The construction of the church continued intermittently until it had to be provisionally stopped due to the depletion of silver mines in Kutná Hora.
A significant change occurred after the arrival of the Jesuit order in the 17th century, which not only redesigned the interior but also gave the church its present three-tent silhouette. Over the following centuries, the church underwent numerous modifications and reconstructions, mainly in the Baroque style.
At the turn of the 19th 19. and 20th centuries, the church was restored and completed more or less into its current form.
Architecture
St. Barbara’s Church is architecturally exceptional with its five-aisled layout, which is unique in the Czech lands. It measures 70 meters in length, 40 meters in width, and has an external buttress system that gives it its characteristic shape. Inside the church, there are massive supporting pillars forming the main nave and separating the side spaces.
The star-shaped vault above the main nave and the circular ribs designed by Benedikt Rejt are particularly impressive. The ribs feature coats of arms and emblems of local burghers and guilds.
Around the main nave are eight side chapels – of St. Catherine, St. Blaise, the Holy Cross, St. Wenceslas, St. Basil, St. Dorothy, the Smíšek Chapel, and the Chapel of St. Barbara (Hašplířská Chapel with frescoes of miners and rope makers).
Interior
Among the most significant interior elements are the Renaissance pulpit with Baroque paneling and a number of Baroque altars and statues installed by the Jesuits.
The stained-glass windows of the church are also noteworthy. At the beginning of the 20th century, many of the windows were decorated with stained glass by painter František Urban, depicting Christian motifs and important events of the time. This tradition continues today – in 2014, a new stained glass window depicting St. Agnes of Bohemia was installed.
The main altar – a Neo-Gothic five-winged altar with reliefs depicting the Last Supper, including St. Barbara and other saints.
The Kutná Hora Madonna dates from 1380, even before the construction of the church began. It can be found in the first side chapel.
Frescoes – the interior is richly decorated with frescoes depicting religious and mining motifs.
A statue of a miner
On the upper gallery, there are three-meter-high statues representing the four Christian virtues: Justice, Courage, Temperance, and Prudence.
Symbolism and Significance
St. Barbara’s Church is not only an important sacred building but also a major symbol of Kutná Hora and its glorious mining past. The church was dedicated to St. Barbara, the patroness of all who work in dangerous professions, especially miners. It was the miners who contributed most to the prosperity of the medieval city and to the construction of the cathedral, which they dedicated to their holy protector.
St. Barbara is the patron saint of miners and protector against sudden death. She was a Christian martyr whose life and death are surrounded by legends. She was born in the 3rd century in Nicomedia (northwest of present-day Turkey) as the daughter of a wealthy merchant, Dioscurus. He locked her in a tower to protect her from Christianity. Despite this, she secretly converted to Christianity, which led to her cruel torture and subsequent execution by her own father. The cult of St. Barbara quickly spread across Europe, and her feast day is celebrated on December 4, especially in mining regions.
St. Barbara’s Church expresses the townspeople’s reverence for the Body of Christ, the power of the royal city, the period tension between Prague and Kutná Hora, and also Kutná Hora’s independence from the Sedlec Monastery. Perhaps this is why the church was built outside the city walls, beyond the spiritual jurisdiction of Sedlec, on land owned by the Prague Chapter.
UNESCO and the Present
Since 1995, the church, together with the historic center of the city, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, emphasizing its outstanding universal value. Kutná Hora is rightly considered the treasure house of the country, its wealth having fueled the rise of the Czech kingdom. Its uniqueness and history are what earned Kutná Hora a place on the UNESCO list.
Tip: You’ll enjoy St. Barbara’s Church best on a sunny day, when the sunlight passes through the colorful stained glass windows, illuminating the altar and other parts of the church.
Visitor Information
The site is open for individual tours. In addition to the main area of the church, visitors can access the galleries (upper inner balconies), offering a view of the church interior. The galleries also feature an exhibition about the church’s construction and the exterior decorations that are not visible from the ground.
Opening hours:
Mon–Sun 9:00–18:00 in the main season (April–October)
Mon–Sun 9:00–17:00 in the shoulder season (March, November, December)
Mon–Sun 10:00–16:00 in the off-season (January–February)
Closed on December 24
Admission to St. Barbara’s Church:
Adults: 180 CZK
Students and seniors: 140 CZK
Children and disabled visitors: 60 CZK
If you also want to visit the Sedlec Ossuary and Cathedral, it’s cheaper to buy a combined ticket for all three sites.
Tickets can be purchased on-site at the adjacent Information Center or ordered online.
Photography: allowed without restriction.
Public restrooms: toilets are near the entrance to St. Barbara’s (by the Information Center). There is a small fee; card payment is accepted.
Parking: there is a small parking lot on the main road in front of St. Barbara’s, usually full. Try finding a spot further along this road (Kouřimská Street) or use the larger parking area Na Valech (Kremnická Street), about 500 m from St. Barbara’s.
How to Get to St. Barbara’s Church
Getting to St. Barbara’s Church from the center of Kutná Hora is easy.
On foot: From Palacký Square in the historic city center, it’s a pleasant 5–10 minute walk with a charming view. This is the main tourist route in the city – you can’t get lost.
By train: From the main train station in Kutná Hora, the center is about 4.5 km away. If you have plenty of time, you can walk, but the route passes through a block district that isn’t particularly scenic, so it’s better to take public transport or a taxi. You can also check if there’s a train heading toward Zruč nad Sázavou – it stops two stations away at Kutná Hora město, which is much closer to the center. However, this train doesn’t run very often.
By car: Driving to St. Barbara’s is not highly recommended because parking is limited and usually full. You can try to find a nearby street spot or park at a central parking lot near the city center and walk.
More information:
