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While both of these UNESCO-recognized sites deserve full day trips, if you are pressed for time, we can visit both places in one day. Enjoy a scenic ride through the countryside on your way to these astonishing destinations. In Kutna Hora you will admire the Bone Church and the Cathedral of St. Barbara, a Gothic masterpiece and the most astonishing Gothic cathedral after St. Vitus’ Cathedral at Prague Castle. Then we head to south Bohemia for lunch at a historical square in Tabor, a former stronghold of the Protestant church and one of the most beautiful towns in south Bohemia. In the afternoon we will reach Cesky Krumlov, one of Bohemia´s most picturesque towns, made up of elegant Renaissance style buildings housing quaint cafes, superb restaurants and interesting shops as well as a breathtaking castle complex. On the return journey, we will stop in Ceske Budejovice, the capital of south Bohemia, where you can sample the original Budweiser beer.
1.5 hours Prague to Bone Church in Kutna Hora
30-minute visit of the Bone Church
30-minute visit of the Cathedral of St. Barbara
1.5 hours Kutna Hora to Tabor transfer
1 hour lunch at historical square in Tabor
1 hour Tabor to Cesky Krumlov transfer
3-hour tour of Cesky Krumlov
30 minute Cesky Krumlov to Ceske Budejovice (Budweis) transfer
30-minute stop for local Budweiser beer at the historical square in Ceske Budejovice
2-hour Cesky Krumlov to Prague transfer
This is a private tour, so the itinerary can be adjusted as you wish.
In Sedlec, near Kutna Hora, the All Saints Chapel above the Bone Church hails from the 14th century. The cemetery, created during the 13th century, is home to many fallen soldiers from the Hussite wars. In 1511 a half-blind monk piled bones from abolished graves into pyramids. The bones were used to decorate the Bone Church. Master architect Jan Santini Blazej-Aichel had renovated the space in his unique Baroque Gothic style before the Schwarzenbergs bought the ossuary in 1784. It was this noble family that had the idea to place the 40,000 bones and skulls into various forms, such as a large chandelier, a Gothic tower and a chalice. There are even bones depicting the Schwarzenberg coat-of- arms that shows a severed Turk’s head and a raven. Any visit to the Bone Church is sure to be unforgettable and eerie, a definite highlight of your stay in the Czech Republic.
The Cathedral of Saint Barbara, built between 1388-1565, dominates Kutna Hora. The town’s miners had it erected and dedicated it to the patron saint of miners. It was even designed to rival Prague’s Saint Vitus Cathedral. Built in 1338 and, after many interruptions, finished in 1905, the cathedral shows off much Baroque artwork. Frescoes focusing on mining themes from the Late Gothic period are delights, too. Do not overlook its masterful exterior of a Neo-Gothic facade with outer buttresses and gargoyles.
St.Barbara Cathedral – admission: 60 CZK / adult, students or and seniors 40 CZK / person. Open daily all year round, except Dec 24th.
Bone Church – admission: 90 CZK / adult, students or and seniors 60 CZK / person. Open daily all year round.
Narrow, picturesque streets led to Zizka Square in the south Bohemia’s second biggest town. Various architectural styles are featured on the square. A monument to Jan Zizka of Trocnov, the greatest leader of the Hussites, dominates the center of the square. The Dean Church is Gothic in appearance, though it also boasts Renaissance gables and a Baroque dome. Its tower is 87 meters high. Construction on the Late Gothic town hall began in 1440, and it remains a symbol of the town where so many historical events of the Hussite movement took place. The burgher houses surrounding the square are sure to delight, too. Tabor is also famous for its underground corridors, dug by its inhabitants in the 15th century.
During the tour of the city, we will explore the narrow and romantic streets of the Renaissance Old Town that includes 300 medieval buildings, enjoy views from a footbridge over the Vltava River and see the impressive Egon Schiele Art Centre. At the Hotel Ruze, a former Jesuit College with beautiful Renaissance sgraffiti, you will see pictures of crowds saluting Hitler in the square during World War II, when Cesky Krumlov was home to a German-speaking majority. We will also visit Saint Vitus Church and the town square with its Renaissance town hall, Plague Column and fountain. Next on the list is Latran Street with its colorful, medieval houses. The second biggest castle in Bohemia is not to be missed, either. Take a close look at the bear moat, where bears are really in residence.
The Castle of Cesky Krumlov is the number one attraction in the town. Composed of five courtyards and 11 hectares of gardens, it attracts tourists from all over the world. Cesky Krumlov Castle became the primary residence of the Rosenbergs in 1302, and they remained there for nearly 300 years, greatly influencing the castle’s and town’s history. A golden carriage in the castle is sure to amaze. Constructed from gilded walnut in 1638, the carriage was used to transport presents from newly-elected Emperor Ferdinand III von Habsburg to Pope Urban VIII. That is not all Cesky Krumlov has to offer. Its Baroque theatre is one of the oldest of its kind in Europe. Constructed from 1680 to 1682, it is one of only several Baroque theatres in the world with its original stage machinery, costumes, scenery and props.
Cesky Krumlov Castle is made up of the Upper and Lower Castle. The Upper Castle is open daily from April through October except Mondays. If you are in Cesky Krumlov on a Monday, do not fret – you can still visit the interiors of the Lower Castle and/or its tower. During the winter (November – March), when the Upper Castle is closed, you can still admire the interiors of the Lower Castle daily except Mondays. The castle interiors are completely closed on Mondays in winter (November-March) and during the holiday season from December 22 until January 1. Still, you can admire the exteriors of the five courtyards of Krumlov Castle and wander around the Old Town. Admission fees: Upper Castle 260 CZK / person, Lower Castle (Museum): 100 CZK / person or Lower Castle + Tower: 150 CZK / person. Reduced price for students and seniors over 65.
The largest square in the country, the Premysl Otakar II Square in Ceske Budejovice measures one hectare and is surrounded by 48 Baroque burgher houses. Once there were markets, fairs and executions in this square. The arcades of the buildings give the square a romantic appearance. In the center of the square is Samson’s Fountain, a Baroque masterpiece dating from 1721 to 1727. One of the largest fountains in the Czech Republic, it depicts Samson fighting a lion and is decorated with four gargoyles and four statues. Near the fountain is the erratic boulder, which marks the former execution site on the square. The Baroque town hall has three spires. Emperor Josef II spent a night in one of the buildings of what is today the Zvon Hotel. Prindl’s House features stone tracery hailing from the 14th and 15th centuries. Functionalism is also represented on the square with the building used by Ceska sporitelna Bank, a structure dating from the 1930s. At this historic square you will have the opportunity to sample the pale lager of Budejovicky Budvar beer, which has a 700-year history. Admire the golden color of the beer and savor its unique taste of mild bitterness.
You may also consider booking similar tours:
Cesky Krumlov Day Trips from Prague
Bone Church – Kutna Hora Day Trips from Prague
| Location | 200 km / 2,5 hour drive south of Prague (direction Austria - Salzburg) |
| Sights to See | Kutna Hora - historical center, Cesky Krumlov - UNESCO Pearl |
| Interiors | Bone Church in Sedlec (Ossuary), St. Barbara Cathedral, Cesky Krumlov Castle |
| Included | Car / van, driver-guide, gas, tolls, parking |
| Excluded | Entrance fees, food and drinks |
| Availability From-To | All year round |
| Departure Time and Location | We will pick you up at the agreed place and time, most likely at the reception of your hotel in Prague. (To be specified in the request form below) |
| Duration | 12 hours |
| Return Location | We will finish the tour anywhere you wish in Prague. |
| Means of Transportation | Walking and/or Driving - Car, Van, Minibus, Bus |
| Required Walking Ability | Medium |
| Language | All tours are in English, but exceptions can be made in advance. |
