The Sedlec Ossuary |
Every place you visit has something unique about the place. Most of these places or museums are maintained by the official agencies, or private trusts, in some cases by non-profit organisations and also some wealthy who have a passion to pursue their interests and preserve their collections. There is hardly a place I visited where I did not come across something unique that I did not visit. The well-known museum's world over is the Vatican, the British Musem in London, Louvre in Paris, The Smithsonian in the Washington DC and scores of others where the footfalls are perhaps the highest. These have been visited by most people who have globe trotted and treasured their memories. Also, lesser-known places or museums are those that have kept my curiosity alive. Unable to travel for the last six months I tried to recollect some of the strange places that I came across. Some of these seep in history and need to be shared. Almost two years back I was travelling in the Czech Republic when I learnt about the Bone Church, also known as Sedelec Ossuary.
It was a cold winter morning when we set off from the Hlavni Nadrazi Railway Station in the heart of Prague. The train was very comfortable and at the exact time departed from the busy station. Within a few minutes, it was zipping across the countryside and with small stops at Cesky Brod, Pecky and Kolin arrived at Kutna Hora. There were just four or five people at the station and the town was very quiet. We set the course with the Google Maps to head for Sedlec Osssury, our destination. After walking for about 20 minutes through the wooded area with a few scattered houses, we faced a huge imposing structure! After purchasing the tickets we were inside one of the world's most queer church. The outward appearance is grossly deceptive and appears like an old medieval gothic church. What awaited us was something one can never imagine! The Sedlec Ossuary as it is known is an artistic collection of more than 40000 human skeletons! It is also known as the Church of Bones or the Bone church
Some of the most fascinating works is a big chandelier of bones that is suspended in the middle of the church. Another impressive work of art is the coat of arms of the Schwarzenberg family. Then there is a memento mori and several other artworks created by human bones and skulls that will leave the onlooker bewildered. Sometimes an eerie feeling and creepiness crawl up the spine as these morbid skeletal remains come within a touching distance. Some of them appear in decorated forms like wall hangings while others are arranged in form of flower vases.
One is left wondering how so many bones and skeletons ended up in this small remote town of the Czech Republic away from humanity. According to the legend in 1278 the King of Bohemia sent the abbot of Sedlec Cistercian Monastery to Jerusalem. When the abbot returned he brought back a jar of soil from Golgotha known as the 'holy soil'. Soon the people from all over the places desired to be buried in the cemetery here. In the 15th century, a Gothic church was built near the cemetery. The bones from the cemetery stayed here till around 1870 when Frantisek Rint was appointed to place these bones in order, The result was this shocking yet a beautiful masterpiece creation. Those who came with a death wish would never have imagined that their remains would go into the pages of the history of this macabre church
Every year hundreds of tourists converge to this gory yet fascinating site and is a must-visit for the travellers having interests in unusual sites.
PS- All pics are mine,
Wow - what an amazing place! I'd love to visit.
ReplyDeleteA place not to be missed:)
Deletewonder where they got the human bones from?
ReplyDeleteA cemetry next to the church,was the source of bones, Purba!
DeleteWow this is amazing. What a concept!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot!
DeleteThis reminds me of our trip to Prague that we booked and had to cancel the tickets because of Covid. Yes, the bone church was on our itinerary :|
ReplyDeleteThe Covid 19 has been a spoil sport for many! I was to be in Rotterdam this summer but it could not materialize! I hope you will be able to travel to Czech Republic soon
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