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The Sedlec Ossuary — better known as the Bone Church — is the most famous sight near Prague and one of the strangest churches in Europe. Beneath an ordinary Gothic chapel in Sedlec, on the edge of Kutná Hora, the bones of an estimated 40,000 to 70,000 people are arranged into chandeliers, garlands and a coat of arms.
It sits about 80 km east of Prague and makes an easy half-day or day trip by train. Here’s what the ossuary is, what you’ll see inside, and exactly how to visit it from Prague — tickets, trains, and whether to go DIY or on a guided tour.
What is the Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church)?
The unique two-storey Cemetery Church of All Saints with the Ossuary stands in the Sedlec district, about 2.5 kilometres from Kutná Hora’s historic centre. Its lower chapel is decorated entirely with human remains — the bones and skulls of more than forty thousand people, victims of plague epidemics and the Hussite Wars.
The first distinctive features of the decoration were designed by architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel.
The lower chapel feels different from what most people imagine: neither gloomy nor kitsch — quiet, and sitting somewhere between art and memento mori.
What you’ll see inside
You’ll see a chandelier said to contain every bone in the human body, four bell-shaped pyramids, garlands of skulls, and the extraordinary Schwarzenberg coat of arms made of bones.
Most of it was designed and assembled in 1870 by local woodcarver František Rint, who reshaped the decoration in the spirit of Romanticism — and left his own signature, also spelled out in bone.
How to visit the Sedlec Ossuary from Prague
Kutná Hora is one of the most popular day trips from Prague, and the Bone Church is the easiest part to reach — it’s right beside the main railway station, so you can see it even on a half-day out.
Getting there by train
Take a direct České dráhy (Czech Railways) train from Praha hl. n. to Kutná Hora hl. n. — it takes about 55 minutes. The ossuary is a 10–15 minute walk from the main Kutná Hora station, so it’s the first thing you reach.
Tickets cost roughly €5–8 one-way and can be bought on the spot or via the ČD “Můj Vlak” app or PID “Lítačka” app.
On weekends and in the summer season, always book a seat – it’s not automatically included with the ticket (unless bought via the “Můj Vlak” app). The trains can get very packed with other tourists visiting Sedlec and Kutná Hora.
Express (R) trains running from Prague to Brno via Havlíčkův Brod are marked as line R9, and run at least once in two hours – most of the day, they go every hour. They are currently operated by Czech Railways (České dráhy) but from December 2026, the route will be taken over by RegioJet.
Be careful – there are other R trains going from Prague to Brno, but taking another route. Sometimes, the two R trains even leave from the same platform in the Prague main station. So always make sure you take the R9 line.
Tickets and booking
Be sure to book your ticket in advance, ideally online at sedlec.info — entry is tied to a specific date and time slot. A combined Ossuary + Cathedral of the Assumption ticket is the best value, as the two sights are five minutes apart.
In peak season (July–August, weekends) slots sell out; off-season you can usually buy on the day.
Guided tour or DIY?
DIY by train is the cheapest option and gives you full control of pace — recommended if you’re comfortable with Czech public transport. It’s not difficult but be ready not every staff person speaks English.
An organised Bone Church day tour from Prague typically includes hotel pickup, minibus transport, skip-the-line entry and a guide for the wider town — worth it if your time is tight or you’d rather not deal with the connection in Sedlec.
Photography and etiquette
Photography inside the ossuary is currently not permitted. The space remains consecrated and religious services are still held there, so please be quiet and respectful during your visit.
Make a day of it: the rest of Kutná Hora
The ossuary itself takes about 30 minutes. Right next door is the Baroque-Gothic Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and St. John the Baptist, also reworked by Santini-Aichel.
But Kutná Hora’s real showstopper is a short bus ride away in the historic centre — the spectacular Gothic St. Barbara’s Cathedral, a medieval silver mine you can go down into, and the Italian Court.
👉 Plan the full day: see our complete Kutná Hora UNESCO town guide for the itinerary, St. Barbara’s Cathedral, the silver museum, where to eat and where to stay.
Sedlec Ossuary FAQ
Is the Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church) worth visiting?
Yes — it is the single most famous sight near Prague and one of the most unusual churches in Europe. Its interior is decorated with the bones of an estimated 40,000 to 70,000 people, arranged into chandeliers, garlands and a coat of arms. Even a quick 30-minute visit is worth the trip from Prague.
How far is the Bone Church from Prague?
The Sedlec Ossuary is about 80 km (50 mi) east of Prague. Direct trains from Prague’s main station (Praha hl. n.) reach Kutná Hora hl. n. in roughly 55 minutes, and the ossuary is a 10–15 minute walk from there.
What is the Sedlec Ossuary made of?
It is decorated with human bones from medieval plague victims and Hussite War casualties. In 1870 woodcarver František Rint arranged them into the famous chandelier, four bell-shaped pyramids, the Schwarzenberg coat of arms and his own bone signature.
Can you take photos inside the Bone Church?
Photography inside the Sedlec Ossuary is currently not permitted. The space remains consecrated and religious services are still held there — please be respectful during your visit.
Do you need to book Sedlec Ossuary tickets in advance?
In peak season (July–August and weekends) advance booking through the official Sedlec Tourism site (sedlec.info) is strongly recommended — entry is timed and slots sell out. Off-season you can usually buy on the day at the visitor centre.
When is the best time to visit?
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) bring good weather and fewer crowds than midsummer. December is quiet and atmospheric, with a small Christmas market in the nearby historic centre.
Where to next
- See the whole town: Kutná Hora UNESCO town guide (St. Barbara’s, the silver mine, where to stay)
- Another Bohemian day trip: Karlovy Vary spa town guide
- Renaissance Bohemia at Litomyšl
