Kuttenberg as Prague's rival in medieval Bohemia

Kutná Hora as a Rival to Prague in Medieval Bohemia.

In modern times, we might jokingly consider Brno or Ostrava as competitors to our capital city of Prague. However, in the past, it was different, and the title of the second city of the Czech Kingdom was claimed by none other than Kutná Hora. This was mainly due to the wealth of its mines, rich with veins of silver ore. Let us start from the beginning. The oldest silver finds in the area were most likely made in prehistoric times, as the silver ore reached the surface, making it easy to extract. The first surface mines are documented as early as the 10th century. Monks from the Cistercian monastery in Sedlec also engaged in mining. Most of the land where the settlement later arose belonged to the monastery. Thus began the famous era of Kutná Hora metallurgy.

However, extracting silver became increasingly challenging as miners had to go deeper, facing greater dangers. This is reflected in the legend of the creation of our second Gothic cathedral, dedicated to Saint Barbara, the patroness of miners. The story tells of three miners trapped underground, each praying to Saint Barbara for a little more time on earth. One wished to see the sun once more, another asked for a day, and the third for a year of life. Their wishes were granted, and the miner who lived the longest built a modest chapel that eventually grew into the current cathedral. While the legend is charming, the historical truth is less poetic. Yet, it is true that Kutná Hora owed its fame and wealth to groups of brave men who descended into the depths to bring back the "moon metal," as silver was called by ancient alchemists. The city's name, Kutná Hora, literally means "Mountain of Mining."

IMAGE: Kutnohorský Miner - A talisman created based on an archaeological find and refined by artist Katien. This is how the guardian of Kutná Hora's underground appears in our shop - Miner of Kuttenberg

Kutná Hora experienced its golden age during the reign of Wenceslas II, who in 1300 issued a law establishing royal oversight of silver mining and the minting of silver coins, known as groschen. At that time, monetary policy was quite different from today, as the value of currency was determined by its precious metal content. The Czech currency once enjoyed a strong "exchange rate," making it popular across Christian Europe. In 1318, Kutná Hora gained city status and associated privileges, which gradually expanded as Czech kings recognized their dependence on the region's mineral wealth. The golden era of Kutná Hora continued under the reigns of Charles IV and his son Wenceslas IV, who granted the city additional rights. Among other things, many magnificent structures were built, including the Church of St. James, other churches, the town hall, and fortifications with six gates, underscoring the city's commercial significance.

When mentioning Wenceslas IV, we must highlight the Italian Court, a favored retreat of the king when staying in the area. Besides expanding the court, Wenceslas IV also assisted the city with the Kutná Hora Decree (1409), which adjusted voting rights at Charles University in favor of Czech masters. While this benefited Hus's followers, it also led to the departure of German-speaking faculty members.

With the rise of Hussitism, divisions emerged within the Czech Kingdom, and Kutná Hora sided with the Catholics, represented by Wenceslas IV's younger brother Sigismund. This led to Jan Žižka burning the city in 1424. A spark of revival came with the coronation of George of Poděbrady as Czech king in 1444. From Kutná Hora, the "king of two peoples" launched campaigns against Hussite Prague and later against Matthias Corvinus, whom he defeated at the Battle of Vilémov. Both George of Poděbrady and his successor Vladislaus Jagiellon contributed to the city's revival, as they were crowned in the Vladislav Hall and felt indebted to the silver-rich city.

Saint Barbara - A medieval cathedral in Kutná Hora, the patroness of mining in the Middle Ages.

One might expect the city to flourish again after law and order were restored, but unfortunately, that was not the case. The city's population suffered greatly due to a plague outbreak around 1625, which claimed a quarter of its inhabitants. Fast-forwarding to modern times, Kutná Hora was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995.