Sedlec Abbey
First Cistercian monastery in Bohemia, housing the Sedlec Ossuary; abbey buildings are in the buffer zone of the UNESCO site.
Sedlec Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery located in the Sedlec district of Kutná Hora, Czech Republic, was founded in 1142 as the first monastery of its order in Bohemia. In 1995, the area became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Kutná Hora: Historical Town Centre with the Church of St Barbara and the Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec'; this designation includes the Sedlec Ossuary and the Cathedral of Our Lady, while the abbey buildings themselves lie within the buffer zone. The abbey is also famous as the home of the Sedlec Ossuary.
The monastery was established in 1142 by monks from Waldsassen Abbey, on land donated by Miroslav of the House of Vartenberk, which was then covered in forest and marsh. It prospered under Abbot Heinrich Heidenreich, thanks to the region’s silver mining. In April 1421, Hussite forces led by Jan Žižka burned the abbey, killing many monks; the library had been safely moved to Stift Klosterneuburg in Lower Austria shortly before. A few monks eventually returned, but the monastery was not revived until 1620. It flourished again after the Thirty Years' War, when several buildings were erected or remodeled. The abbey was dissolved in 1783.
Originally built in the Romanesque style, the abbey was remodeled in Gothic style between 1280 and 1320. After the Hussite destruction, the buildings were reconstructed at the start of the 18th century. The abbey church, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and Saint John the Baptist, was built as a five-nave basilica between 1280 and 1330. Destroyed in 1421, it was rebuilt from 1699 to 1707 based on designs by Paul Ignaz Bayer and Jan Santini Aichel. A later restoration, aiming to preserve its original appearance, took place from 1854 to 1857. The Chapel of All Saints, adjacent to the cemetery, was run by a Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre starting in 1389. The building, dating from around 1400, was rebuilt several times and remodeled in Baroque style in 1710 by Santini Aichel; its basement contains the Sedlec Ossuary.
- known_for
- Sedlec Ossuary, part of UNESCO World Heritage Site (1995) as 'Kutná Hora: Historical Town Centre with the Church of St Barbara and the Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec'
Quick Facts
- Native Name
- Sedlecký klášter
- Location
- Kutná Hora, Czech Republic
- Denomination
- Catholic
- Style
- Gothic
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Sedlec Abbey was founded in 1142 from Waldsassen Abbey as the first Cistercian monastery in Bohemia. The grounds, covered by wood and swamp, were granted by Miroslav of the House of Vartenberk. It flourished under abbot Heinrich Heidenreich due to silver mining in the region. The abbey was burnt in April 1421 by Hussites led by Jan Žižka, and many monks were killed. The library had been secured shortly before to the Stift Klosterneuburg in Lower Austria. A few monks returned, but it took until 1620 to revive the monastery. It flourished once more after the Thirty Years' War, when several buildings were erected or remodeled. The abbey was dissolved in 1783.
Reader's Guide
Sedlec Abbey holds significance as the first Cistercian monastery in Bohemia, marking the introduction of the order to the region. Its history reflects the turbulent religious and political conflicts of the Hussite Wars, during which it was destroyed in 1421, and its later revival after the Thirty Years' War. The abbey's architectural evolution from Romanesque to Gothic and then Baroque illustrates changing styles and the resilience of the monastic community. The abbey church, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and Saint John the Baptist, was rebuilt in the early 18th century after designs by Paul Ignaz Bayer and Jan Santini Aichel, and later restored in the mid-19th century. The Chapel of All Saints, dating from around 1400, holds the Sedlec Ossuary in its basement, a site of international renown. The abbey's inclusion as part of the Kutná Hora UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 underscores its cultural and historical importance. Its legacy endures through its architectural heritage and the ossuary, which attracts visitors worldwide.
Did You Know?
- Sedlec Abbey was founded in 1142 as the first Cistercian monastery in Bohemia.
- The abbey was burnt in April 1421 by Hussites led by Jan Žižka.
- The abbey church was rebuilt from 1699 to 1707 after designs by Paul Ignaz Bayer and Jan Santini Aichel.
- The Chapel of All Saints, dating from around 1400, holds the Sedlec Ossuary in its basement.
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