From the outside, it looks like a regular, normal and extremely ordinary Gothic church in Czech Republic. But as you step inside, your perception of a church changes immediately. It’s one of the most unique and fascinating churches in the whole of Europe which is anything but ordinary. We are talking about Sedlec Ossuary, also known as the “Bone Church”. Here, you’ll find yourself surrounded by one of the world’s most extraordinary works of art. No we are not talking about chandeliers, crosses, or garlands. Here everything is crafted, even a family coat of arms, from the human bones! Yes you read that right. An estimated 40,000 to 70,000 people’s bones are used to decorate the interiors of this spectacular church.Let’s find out more about this remarkable attraction in Europe:LocationThe Sedlec Ossuary is a place of remembrance. It is a place where history meets faith. The church is situated in the town of Kutná Hora, nearly 80 km drive from Prague. This unique chapel attracts thousands of curious travellers and visitors every year.The tragic story behind the bones
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It began in 1278, when Henry, the abbot of the Cistercian monastery in Sedlec, returned from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem carrying a small amount of soil from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. He sprinkled this sacred soil over the monastery cemetery. Soon it became one of the most sought-after burial grounds in medieval Europe.Black Death and Hussite Wars But then tragedy struck and the infamous Black Death happened. It was the most fatal pandemic in human history. It spread in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East between 1346 and 1353 and as per history book records, the plague decimated up to 50% of the European population in the mid-14th century. Then the Hussite Wars took place in the early 15th century which also caused tens of thousands of deaths. Soon the cemetery got overcrowded. To accommodate new bodies, older graves had to be exhumed. Now their bones were carefully stored in an underground chapel beneath the Church of All Saints, which eventually created an enormous ossuary (a chest, box, building, or a place designed as the final resting place for human skeletal remains).From bones to artworkFor centuries, the bones were kept stacked underground but in 1870, everything changed. A noble Schwarzenberg family who owned the monastery estate, hired local woodcarver František Rint. He was given the task to organize the bone. Rint instead transformed the bones into stunning works of decorative art and rest is history. Some remarkable bone artwork inside the chapel
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Bone chandelier: The chapel’s most famous feature is an enormous bone chandelier which is believed to have one of every bone found in the human body. Bone pyramids: Then there are four towering pyramids made of skulls. These decorate the chapel’s corners.Garlands of bones: The chapel ceilings are decorated with garlands of bone. Coat of arms: There is one wall which has the intricate Schwarzenberg family coat of arms assembled from human bones. Rint also signed his own name on a wall—using bones instead of ink.Some might find it unsettling and some deeply artistic. It’s all how one looks at it. How to reach Sedlec Ossuary
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The easiest way to visit is from Prague.By train: Direct trains are available from Prague’s Main Railway Station for the town which takes around one hour. From there, it’s a short local train ride or around a 15–20-minute walk to the ossuary.By car: The drive from Prague takes approximately 75–90 minutes via the D11 motorway.Guided tours: Numerous operators offer full-day excursions from Prague, often combining the ossuary with Kutná Hora’s historic centre and the nearby Cathedral of St. Barbara.Visitor information
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As per the official Sedlec website:The ossuary remains open daily, with seasonal opening hours.There is a daily visitor cap so entry is through timed tickets.Photography inside the ossuary is not allowed.Combined tickets are available for both the ossuary and the nearby UNESCO-listed Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and St. John the Baptist.So if you are someone who calls themselves a curious traveller, this place is totally calling you!Official source: Sedlec Ossuary Official Website
