Kutná Hora
about town
Kutná Hora (district city in Central Bohemia) has several nicknames, either the Silver Gem of Czech cities, the Treasury of Czech Lands, or the Pearl on the UNESCO Necklace. The development of Kutná Hora is essentially related to the silver ore and Renaissance rebel Mikuláš Dačický of Heslova.
The rise of Kutná Hora is traditionally connected with the development of the monetary business in the 13th century, however, the beginnings actually date all the way back to the end of the 10th century, when the Slavnikovs minted coins at their fortress in Malína. Around 1300, King Vaclav II issued a new mining law (Ius regale montanorum), which stipulated the royal rights over mining silver and minting, he established a united coin and concentrated minting in Kutná Hora. The sovereignty of this city rapidly growing in wealth was later underscored by a number of privileges and liberties, which were granted to Kutná Hora by the rulers of the Lucemburg family. Soon Kutná Hora gained a significant position following Prague as the second most important city in the Kingdom. However, the Hussite Wars left an unfortunate mark on the fate of the silver city, which was under the rule of Emperor Zikmund at the time. The result was the collapse of mining activities, which was not renewed until the end of Jiří of Poděbrad’s rule. Problems with mining arose in the 1530s, which ended in the closure of the most famous mining zone, Oselsky, in 1543.
During its´ „golden years“ the town of Kutná Hora became a cosmopolitan metropolis and the economical heart of the kingdom, the Italian Court, was a witness of many important events which influenced not only the fate of the Bohemian Kingdom. Meetings and negotiations took place here. In 1409 witnessed the royal audience hall the signing of the Decree of Kutná Hora. Very most important event that took place here was the king´s election in May 1471, when young polish prince Vladislav II. Jagiello was elected as king of Bohemia.
The historical centre of the Urban Conservation Area, together with St. Barbora’s Church and the Church of the Assumption of Mary in Sedlec has been entered into the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1995.
Although Kutná Hora does not belong among large cities of the Czech Republic, it ranks among cultural centres of regional and supra-regional significance.
The most significant cultural institutes are the City Library, the City Tyl Theatre and the Modrý Kříž (Blue Cross) Cinema.
Overview of annual significant cultural events:
- April – commencement of the tourist season with an extensive programme in historical buildings and outdoors The Waking of Kutná Hora
- June – Opera Week Kutná Hora
- June – International Music Festival Kutná Hora
- June – historical Gothic festivities, the Royal Silvering of Kutná Hora
- June - Beerfest
- June - July – Biennale International Guitar Performance Competition
- June - September – cultural entertainment festival Kutná Hora Summer
- August - festival of country, bluegrass, tramp and folk music Kutnohorská Kocábka
- August - festival of amateur and author theatres of small form TyjátrFest
- August – Veteran Rallye & August Food Fest
- September – nationwide competition show of young poets, photography competition, music and literary performances in historical buildings of Ortenova City Kutná Hora
- September – Saint Vaclav Festivities
- September - European Heritage Days
- December - St Barbara Day and Lighting of the Christmas Tree
www.kutnahora.cz
Source: http://www.kutnahora.cz; http://cs.wikipedia.org
