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Mary - Kutna Hora Sedlec Provozuje Římskokatolická farnost Kutná Hora Sedlec, Zámecká 127, 284 03 Kutná Hora, tel. 327 561 143, mob. 728 125 488 |
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Cathedral of Assumption of the Virgin Mary – on the World Heritage List of UNESCO
Opening daily April - October 9 am -12 am ; 1 pm - 5 pm Sunday 12 - 5 pm
The cathedral has been on the World Heritage List of UNESCO since 1995. Cathedral has been undergoing restoration with support of the Ministry of Culture (financial resources have been drawn on the fund for “Saving architectonic heritage in the Czech Republic“). Significant contribution has been paid by Catholic church in Kutná Hora- Sedlec
Cathedral of Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Cathedral looks magnificent at any time of the year. However, in the dim light of winter days it is even more spectacular. It is not only a witness of lots of tragic events and unsettled times throughout the history. It is much more than just a repository of the past but demonstrates incredible faith of its builders. Unless we understand what the Cistercian motto: “pray and work“ stands for, we may never reveal the mystery of inspiration to built the cathedral. We would be obliged if we manage to preserve both House of God and architectonic masterwork for next generations.
Since 2001, cathedral has been undergoing restoration. Costs of repair works were mainly covered by contributions drawn on fund for architectonic heritage preservation in the Czech Republic“. An opening up for the public is liable to progress of restoration. Making cathedral accessible for tourists is expected in 2006, but some parts will be still inaccessible. For more information go to restoration (in Czech version only)
To top it all: Cathedral of Assumption of Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist is a part of complex of former Cistercian monastery in Sedlec. The period of monastery prosperity and the begining of extensive building activity coincides with the time of Abbot Heidenreich. A gothic-style cathedral dedicated to Virgin Mary was built during the time of his office between 1290-1320. Builders of the earliest cathedral in the country were aparently inspired by traditions of Northern French Gothic architecture. It was an extraordinary project resulting in erection of the largest structure from the turn of the 13th an 14th century. The five-naved temple in the shape of Latin cross has a high chancel, chapel gallery and cross triple-nave. Total lenght of cathedral is 87 metres. In compliance with strict rules of Cistercian order, there is no tower, stained-glass windows or any outstanding interior or exterior decoration. On the contrary, it presents a picture of an austere, solid building of well-thought-out proportions. It draws the believers without distracting them with negligible details. In 1421 the monastery was taken by Hussite army and burnt down. The original temple was plundered and totally destroyed. It lay in rubble to the end of the 17th century. Under Abbot Jindřich Snopek the monastery was restored; designer from 1700-1709 was Pavel Ignác Bayer, and later Jan blažej Santini Aichl. The reconstruction - an amazing hybrid of Baroque and Gothic style - was carried out with regard to preserve original Gothic elements. The interior decoration, dated from the first half of the 18th century, contains fine art-work by painters Petr Brandl, M.L. Willman, J.K. Liška, J.J. Stevens of Steinfels, J.T. Supper, and sculptor M.V. Jäckel and others. Under Josef II the monastery was abolished and the cathedral closed. The church of St. Philip and St. James served as a parish church. It was bad disrepair however, and its function was taken over by the cathedral of Assumption of Virgin Mary in 1806.
ing.Michaela Jandejsková
picture of the complex after Hussite wars (cathedral in ruins)
contact: katedrala@sedlec.infomobile +420 606 647 996
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