The Sedlec Ossuary is a small Roman Catholic chapel located beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints in Kutná Hora. It is internationally known for its unique interior decoration composed of human bones. The ossuary is estimated to contain the skeletal remains of approximately 40,000–70,000 individuals. The site originated in the 13th century when soil from the Holy Land was reportedly scattered over the cemetery, making it a highly desirable burial place. During the 14th century, the Black Death and Hussite Wars dramatically increased the number of burials. To manage overcrowding, exhumed bones were stored in the chapel’s lower level. In 1870, woodcarver František Rint arranged the bones into elaborate decorative forms, including chandeliers, coats of arms, and garlands.
Key Facts
- Materials
- Stone masonry, Human skeletal remains
- Civilization
- Kingdom of Bohemia
- Date(s)
- 14th century chapel; bone arrangement completed 1870
- Condition
- Preserved; open to the public with ticketed entry
- Original Function
- Cemetery chapel and ossuary
- Key Figures
- Abbot Henry of Sedlec, František Rint
- Architectural Style
- Gothic chapel with Baroque modifications
Holy Land Soil and Cemetery Expansion
13th centuryAccording to tradition, the abbot of Sedlec Monastery brought soil from Jerusalem and spread it over the cemetery, increasing its religious significance and attracting burials from across Central Europe.
Plague and War Burials
14th-15th centuryThe Black Death and the Hussite Wars caused mass fatalities, leading to severe overcrowding in the cemetery. Exhumed remains were relocated to the chapel’s ossuary.
Rint’s Artistic Arrangement
1870The Schwarzenberg family commissioned woodcarver František Rint to organize the piled bones. He created structured pyramids and decorative installations, including a large chandelier containing at least one of every bone in the human body.
Modern Preservation
20th century-presentThe ossuary remains an active cultural and religious site and is part of Kutná Hora’s UNESCO-listed heritage area. Conservation efforts focus on structural stabilization and respectful preservation of the remains.
Key Facts
- Materials
- Stone masonry, Human skeletal remains
- Civilization
- Kingdom of Bohemia
- Date(s)
- 14th century chapel; bone arrangement completed 1870