Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady / Chrám Nanebevzetí Panny Marie (Sedlec)
N 49° 57.585 E 015° 17.364
33U E 520757 N 5534195
The Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist (In Czech: Chrám Nanebevzetí Panny Marie a Sv. Jana Krtitele) is the magnificent cathedral-type church situated in Sedlec (quarter of the historic town Kutná Hora).
Waymark Code: WM679E
Location: Středočeský kraj, Czechia
Date Posted: 04/16/2009
Views: 193
The monastic Church of the Assumption of Our Lady was built between 1282 and 1320; it is a monumental five-aisled cathedral structure with seven chapels arranged fanlike around the presbytery – the oldest cathedral on the territory of the Czech Republic.
On 21 April 1421, the monastery and the church were seized by Hussite troops and burnt down. It took centuries to reconstruct the buildings; elaborate restoration of the cathedral and the entire complex was initiated by Abbot Jindrich Snopek, but that was only at the turn of the 18th century. Major contribution to the current appearance was made by J. B. Santini-Aichl (1677–1733), great Czech Baroque architect. His innovative style, the so-called Baroque Gothic, which he applied especially in the cathedral, has no parallel in Europe and connects both styles in a remarkable unity. Artistic treasures of the church include three altar paintings from the famous Baroque painter M. L. Willmann (1630–1706) from the early 18th century, another three from Petr Brandl (1668–1735) and some paintings by Jan Kryštof Liška (1650–1712).
Last big reconstruction of this jewel was done in 2001 and at present it is opened to the visitors, such as the famous osuary in the chapel of All Saints.
Since 1995 this cathedral together with historic centre of the town Kutná Hora and St. Barbara's cathedral are part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.