Sedlec Ossuary, Gothic chapel ossuary in Kutná Hora, Czech Republic.
The Sedlec Ossuary is a Gothic chapel in Sedlec, Czech Republic, containing more than forty thousand human skeletons arranged into chandeliers, crosses, and decorative forms. The interior chambers display elaborate patterns and symbols assembled from different bones, decorating the walls, arches, and altar areas.
An abbot brought soil from Jerusalem to the local cemetery in 1278, attracting many people who wished to be buried there. The chapel was built in the 14th century, and in 1870 woodcarver František Rint arranged the bones into elaborate displays.
The name comes from the nearby Sedlec monastery, whose cemetery became famous after an abbot brought blessed soil from the Holy Land. Visitors today see elaborate figures and symbols formed from human bones, a reminder of the Christian belief in the transience of the body.
Visitors can reach the chapel by train from Prague to Kutná Hora in about an hour, from where the ossuary is walkable. Tickets are available at the information center on site, and the rooms are small, so visiting outside peak times helps avoid crowds.
The Schwarzenberg family coat of arms in the chapel is made entirely from human bones and shows a raven pecking out the eye of a Turkish warrior. This elaborate display was created during the 19th-century rearrangement and stands out for its detailed craftsmanship.
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