Page:Guide to the Bohemian section and to the Kingdom of Bohemia - 1906.djvu/247

213 ster-pieces by Brandl. The building has been thoroughly repaired.

The monastery, at one time occupied by 300 priests and 200 friars, was abolished by Joseph II., in 1783, and is now a tobacco factory.

The adjacent ossuary chapel of the church-yard with its wall decoriations, lustres, chandeliers, altar-pieces coats-of-arms etc., composed of human bones and skulls, is certainly unique.

A twelve minute’s journey by train, takes us from Sedlec to the old mining town of Kutná Hora, a place with a great past. At one time it ranked second only to Prague, it was known as a place of considerable importance as early as 1276, and its inhabitants have always figured prominently in the stirring events recorded in Bohemian history.

The mines which in the past yielded so much,—are now abandoned, in the days when the output was large and valuable, the whole community shared in the prosperity of the time,—both art and commerce were benefited by the wealth-producing ores, the place became the treasury of the kingdom; but to-day, its ancient buildings only remain as witnesses of its former greatness.

The splendid churches,—among them the imposing St. Barbara’s, built by the eminent artists, Matěj Rejsek (1489), Beneš z Loun (1512—24) and carried on in subsequent years by Nicol Parler and Vlach, although still unfinished in consequence of difficulties resulting from the later troublous times, it is the chief monument of the high civilization of the town. The church is decorated with antique frescoes, and has several fine paintings and exquisitely carved stalls. Passing a bridge with 13 statues, we come to a building; formerly a college of the Jesuits but now used as a barrack, next we see the gothic archi-decanal church of St. James founded in the 14th. century which contains a highly artistic carving in linden wood, this work represents the mother of Zebedee’s children appealing to Jesus on their behalf. In the suburb, we have St. Mary’s with its handsome pulpit. St. John’s of Nepomuk and St. Trinity’s completes our list of churches.