The Sedlec Ossuary: The Bone Church of Kutná Hora

Exploring One of Europe’s Most Haunting Landmarks

The Sedlec Ossuary in Kutná Hora, Czech Republic, is one of the world’s most unusual and hauntingly beautiful places. Known as the “Bone Church,” it features thousands of human bones arranged into striking artworks—including its iconic chandelier made from nearly every bone in the human body.

Despite its eerie appearance, the ossuary is not intended to shock. Instead, it reflects medieval beliefs about death, salvation, and the equality of all people in the afterlife. This fusion of art, architecture and human remains makes it one of Europe’s most unique cultural and historic sites.

History of the Sedlec Ossuary

The story begins in the 13th century, when the Abbot of Sedlec returned from the Holy Land with sacred soil from Golgotha. After he scattered it over the cemetery, Sedlec became one of Europe’s most desirable burial grounds. Over the centuries—especially after the Black Death and Hussite Wars—tens of thousands of people were buried here, eventually leading to overcrowding.

When the Church of All Saints was built, a lower chapel was created to store exhumed remains. This space became the Sedlec Ossuary, home to the bones of approximately 40,000 individuals. The arrangement of bones we see today, however, would not take shape until the Baroque period.

In 1870, woodcarver František Rint was commissioned by the Schwarzenberg family to organise the bones. Rint cleaned, bleached, and meticulously arranged them into geometric patterns, symbolic designs, and sculptural forms. His signature can still be found inside the ossuary—spelled out entirely in bones.

The result is a masterful blend of Gothic spirituality, Baroque theatricality, and Victorian-era craftsmanship, turning the ossuary into a unique expression of “memento mori”—a reminder that life is temporary and death unites everyone.

The Iconic Bone Chandelier

The centrepiece of the ossuary is the extraordinary chandelier believed to include at least one of every bone in the human body. Suspended from the centre of the nave, it is both eerie and captivating—its skeletal structure forming one of the most recognisable and symbolic pieces of funerary art in Europe.

Skulls, femurs, vertebrae and ribs form intricate patterns that combine religious symbolism with artistic precision. Surrounding the chandelier, bone pyramids rise toward the ceiling, and garlands of skulls create an almost ceremonial atmosphere. This dramatic use of human remains was intended as a visual meditation on mortality and the afterlife.

The chandelier, along with Rint’s other bone sculptures, has inspired artists, photographers and travellers for generations. Despite its macabre materials, many describe the space as peaceful, even reverent.

Conclusion

Today, the Bone Church attracts visitors from around the world who come to experience its atmospheric beauty. Far from being morbid, the ossuary encourages reflection on life, death, and history. It stands as a reminder that even in mortality, there can be art, meaning, and silent storytelling.

Visit the Official Sedlec Ossuary Website →