St. Barbara Church

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St Barbara Church, front view

Vault of St Barbara Church

The St. Barbara Church (often incorrectly St. Barbara Cathedral, Czech: Chrám svaté Barbory) in Kutná Hora (Bohemia) is one of the most famous Gothic churches in the central Europe. It is in the World Heritage Sites. Its first architect is usually claimed to have been Johann Parler.

The construction began in 1388, but the work on the cathedral was interrupted several times, so that the final work was completed in 1905.

While the first architect was probably Johann Parler, son of Peter Parler, some studies say that Peter Parler had participated at least as a co-author of the drafts. After the work on the building was interrupted because of the Hussite Wars for more than 60 years, from 1482 it was Matyáš Rejsek and Benedikt Rejt, two architects from Prague, who continued. From 1588 till 1884 there was a second long interruption.

According to the original proposals the church seems to have been planned to be much larger, maybe twice as big as it is now. But the construction of it depended on the prosperity of the silver mines in the town. So in 1588, although not finished, it was enclosed by a provisional wall until 1884.

The outside appearance is fascinating, although the final work on the roof was made in the 19th century. Originally there were eight radial chapels with trapezoidal interiors. Later on, there was constructed the choir, supported with double-arched fliying buttresses.

Inside you can admire beautiful glass windows, altars, pulpits and choir stalls, and there are also medieval frescoes depicting the secular life of medieval mining town of the city.