Sedlec Ossuary
Religious Site Small chapel decorated with human bones and skulls
At Kutná Hora, the Sedlec Ossuary decorates a small chapel with arranged human bones-skulls, garlands and a chandelier-seen on guided historical tours.
The Sedlec Ossuary is a small Roman Catholic chapel beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints in Sedlec, part of Kutná Hora in Central Bohemia. The interior is decorated with human skeletal remains arranged as ornamental fixtures, a distinctive example of ossuary art.
The ossuary’s decorations include garlands, coats of arms and a large chandelier made of bones; its unusual display attracts visitors looking for unique ecclesiastical art and macabre curiosities. The chapel is compact and typically visited as a short stop within Kutná Hora’s historic ensemble.
Human remains were gathered into the chapel after the medieval period and the present decorative scheme was completed in the late 19th century by woodcarver František Rint, who arranged the bones into artistic compositions. The bones originate from mass burials linked to medieval epidemics and wars.
Sedlec sits within the town of Kutná Hora east of Prague; the ossuary is adjacent to the older cemetery church on a small hill above the town centre.
- Bone decoration: Contains human bones and skulls artistically arranged into decorations and a central chandelier, using the remains of an estimated 40,000 to 70,000 people from local cemeteries.
How to Get to Sedlec Ossuary #
Sedlec Ossuary is in the Kutná Hora area, about 70-80 km east of Prague (roughly a 1-1.5 hour drive depending on traffic).
Take a regional train from Prague to Kutná Hora (around 1 hour); from Kutná Hora there are short local bus or taxi connections to the Sedlec area (the final transfer is typically 10-20 minutes). Some trains also stop at smaller Kutná Hora/Sedlec stops closer to the ossuary; from those stops it is a 10-20 minute walk.
Tips for Visiting Sedlec Ossuary #
- Visit at opening time or late afternoon to avoid the peak guided-group waves that arrive from Kutná Hora; the ossuary itself is small and can feel crowded mid-day.
- Combine your visit with the surrounding Sedlec cemetery and the Church of All Saints-the exterior layout and interpretive panels add important context that many hurried visitors miss.
- Check seasonal opening hours before you travel: the ossuary's hours shorten in winter, so plan accordingly rather than assuming year-round full-day access.
Best Time to Visit Sedlec Ossuary #
Best visited on weekday mornings in shoulder seasons to minimize crowds and queueing at this indoor ossuary.
Weather & Climate near Sedlec Ossuary #
Sedlec Ossuary's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -3°C to 24°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 2°C and lows of -3°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
February
February is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of -3°C. The driest month with just 19 mm and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
March
March is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 0°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
April
April is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (32 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
May
May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
June
June is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
July
July is the warmest month with highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C. The wettest month with 73 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
August
August is the warmest month with highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (62 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
September
September is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (38 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
October
October is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 5°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
November
November is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (30 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
Comfort
Weather
December
December is cold with highs of 3°C and lows of -2°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
.jpg?width=600)
