Czech Out the Sedlec Ossuary in Kutná Hora – A Perfect Day Trip From Prague

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If You’ve Ever Had the Desire to See A Chandelier Made of Human Bones, Have I Got the Place for You!

Even if that incredibly macabre thought never crossed your mind, I still recommend visiting the Sedlec Ossuary in Kutna Hora, Czech Republic. Kutna Hora is widely considered one of the best places to visit in the Czech Republic. Aside from being the home of this bone church, the charming town holds one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the Czech Republic, the Cathedral of St. Barbara. More on that later.

Prague is a one-hour drive from the Ossuary, making it a very popular day trip. If you’ve traveled around enough, particularly through Europe, you’ve probably seen an ossuary or two. The Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini in Rome and the Catacombs in Paris are two of the most popular with tourists. But the Sedlec Ossuary in Kutná Hora contains some impressive artistic arrangements of bones. And being a short, one-hour drive from Prague to Kutna Hora, it’s a pretty convenient day trip through an accessible tour company (recommendation below) or through public transportation which, (directions below) is also wheelchair accessible.

Alternatively, you can book this Wheelchair-Accessible Tour of Kutna Hora and the Sedlec Ossuary from Prague.

***UPDATE: As of September 2026, the ossuary is not wheelchair accessible because entry requires a temporary wooden staircase during restoration.***

Kutná Hora Bone Church Photos:

Commonly known as “the Bone Church,” Sedlec Ossuary is a small Roman Catholic chapel that displays some truly grisly art. In addition to the aforementioned bone chandelier, which contains at least one of every bone found in the human body, the ossuary displays two large bone chalices, four baroque bone candelabras, six enormous bone pyramids, two bone monstrances, a family crest composed of bones, and a smattering of skull candle holders, which to be honest, really tie the room together.

Cool, But Why Is There A Bone Church in Kutná Hora City?

How does a relatively small church in the middle of Central Europe end up with an estimated 40,000 to 70,000 human skeletons? I’m glad you asked. It all started back in 1278 when an abbot with the Cistercian monastery in Sedlec returned from a trip to the Holy Land with a small amount of earth which he scattered over the Sedlec abbey cemetery. With the addition of holy dirt, Sedlec soon became a very desirable burial site in Central Europe.

In the mid 14th century, the Black Death ravaged Europe. This was followed by the Hussite Wars in the early 15th century, where thousands more lives were lost. Soon the demand for people to be buried in Sedlec far exceeded the space. In the early 1400s, a Gothic church was built in the center of the cemetery. Church officials decided to make the lower part of this new church an ossuary.

In 1511, the task of exhuming the many skeletons and stacking their bones inside the chapel was given to a half-blind monk of the order. Finally, in 1870, woodcarver František Rint was hired by the Schwarzenberg family to arrange the bone heaps. The artful yet macabre arrangement still stands today in this remarkable church of bones.

What Else Is There to Know About Kutna Hora?

If you visit in winter, I will warn you that the ossuary gets rather chilly and there is no heat. Please dress in layers as the temperature below the ground can be quite a few degrees cooler than the temperature outside. Conversely, it’s a great location to visit in warmer weather to escape the heat outside.

The area around the Ossuary is also quite beautiful, and there are several other things to do in Kutna Hora. If you make it out to the Bone Church, I highly recommend also checking out St. Barbara’s Cathedral. This is included in most of the Kutna Hora day trip itineraries. St. Barbara’s is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most famous Gothic churches in Central Europe. The cathedral is located within walking distance of Sedlak. The roads are paved and easy to navigate compared to much of what you see in the city of Prague.

Sedlec Ossuary Hours:

November – February: 9 am – 4 pm

October & March: 9 am – 5 pm

April – September: 9 am – 6 pm

Sundays: 9 am – 6 pm

Closed on December 24th

Admission:

Adults: (220 CZK) $10.57 USD

A lot of tour companies will call the Kutna Hora excursion a “half-day” trip, but between the 2 hours of driving, the tour of Sedlac Ossuary, a nice lunch in Kutna Hora, and a walk to the St. Barbara Cathedral, Kutna Hora, there’s more than enough to see and do. By the time we arrived back in Prague, my poor EDS joints had had enough walking. I had time for a short nap before dinner. Luckily, our hotel was an easy, 2-minute walk from Old Town Square, which is filled with places to grab a delicious dinner and a cup of hot grog.

How to Get to Kutna Hora from Prague:

Kutna Hora Tour Groups: There are a number of group tours around Prague, but I recommend Prague Bus Tours or Prague Experience. Both companies will arrange to pick you up at your hotel, and both offer accessible transportation.

Public Transportation (Prague to Kutna Hora by train): The public train from Prague to Kutna Hora is accessible. The main Kutná Hora train station (Kutná Hora hl. n.) is about 4 km/2.5 miles from the city center, so it’s best to transfer to a local train after you arrive in Kutná Hora. There’s always one connecting with the arriving Prague train, and you’ll have about five minutes to transfer. The ride into town takes six minutes.

FAQs About Visiting Sedlec Ossuary in Kutná Hora

What is Sedlec Ossuary?

Sedlec Ossuary is the lower chapel of the Cemetery Church of All Saints in Kutná Hora’s Sedlec district. Often called the Bone Church, it contains real human remains arranged into elaborate decorations. It is both a remarkable historic site and a place of burial deserving quiet, respectful attention.

Are the bones in Sedlec Ossuary real?

Yes. The skulls and bones are genuine human remains from the surrounding cemetery. The displays include a bone chandelier and the Schwarzenberg family coat of arms. Their intricate arrangement makes the chapel memorable, but remembering that these were real people gives the visit its meaning.

Why are there so many bones in the church?

Sedlec’s cemetery became an important burial place, and epidemics and warfare increased the number of burials. Remains were later gathered into the ossuary as cemetery space was reorganized. The arrangements developed over time, with woodcarver František Rint creating much of the decoration associated with the chapel today.

Is Kutná Hora worth a day trip from Prague?

Yes, especially if you enjoy history, architecture, and unusual sacred sites. Combine Sedlec Ossuary with St. Barbara’s Cathedral and time in Kutná Hora’s historic center. I recommend allowing a full day if you want lunch and breaks rather than treating the trip as a race between churches.

Do you need to book Sedlec Ossuary tickets in advance?

Yes. Tickets require a specific date and entry time because capacity is limited. Book through the official website and allow a buffer for transportation delays. Official ticket reservations

How long does a visit to Sedlec Ossuary take?

Visits to the lower chapel are limited to 30 minutes. Allow additional time for arrival and the upper chapel, where there is no visit-time limit. Visitor information

Is Sedlec Ossuary wheelchair accessible?

Currently, as of September 2026, no. Restoration work means access is via a temporary wooden staircase. An accessible vehicle or tour does not provide step-free entry to the chapel. Check directly with Sedlec before booking, since access arrangements may change as the work progresses. Official accessibility update

Do you need a guide to visit the Bone Church?

No. Standard admission is self-guided, and explanatory leaflets are available. Guided group visits can be arranged in advance for an additional fee. Tour information

Can wheelchair users travel to Kutná Hora by train?

Suitable train journeys can be arranged, but confirm the specific trains, stations, and transfers with České dráhy. The operator asks wheelchair users to arrange journeys requiring assistance at least 24 hours ahead. Allow sufficient transfer time. České dráhy assistance

Can you combine Sedlec Ossuary and St. Barbara’s Cathedral?

Yes, but plan transportation between Sedlec and the historic center rather than assuming they are adjacent. If you have limited energy, arrange a ride between the areas and include a seated lunch. Check each attraction’s access separately before choosing a tour.

Is Sedlec Ossuary suitable for children?

That depends on the child’s comfort with seeing human remains. Explain what an ossuary is before visiting and let them decide whether they want to enter. The chapel is a place for respectful observation, so consider your child’s interests and sensitivities when planning the day.