Information
Landmark: Italian Court (Vlašský Dvůr)City: Kutna Hora
Country: Czech Republic
Continent: Europe
Italian Court (Vlašský Dvůr), Kutna Hora, Czech Republic, Europe
Overview
The Italian Court, or Vlašský Dvůr, stands in Kutná Hora as one of the city’s most important landmarks, rich in history and striking in its architecture, with pale stone walls that catch the afternoon sun.Built in the late 1200s, the Italian Court first housed royalty, its stone halls echoing with ceremony, and later became home to prominent Czech nobles.The town’s story is tightly bound to the silver rush in Kutná Hora, when the clang of pickaxes echoed through its mines, and to its place in the Kingdom of Bohemia during the Middle Ages.Today, the Italian Court stands as a museum, where worn stone steps and quiet galleries tell the story of its rich history and heritage.In Kutná Hora, Czech Republic, you’ll find the Italian Court at Vlašský Dvůr, 284 01, right in the heart of the old town, just a short walk from St. Barbara’s Church, the Silver Mine Museum, and the eerie Sedlec Ossuary lined with human bones; King Wenceslas II of Bohemia ordered its construction in 1300.First built to lodge Italian merchants tied to the silver mines, the place took its name-Italian Court, or Vlašský Dvůr-from that very role.These merchants and bankers, their ledgers heavy with silver profits, helped drive Kutná Hora’s booming economy in the late Middle Ages.Later, Bohemian kings turned the building into a royal palace and the hub of their administration.Over the years, it turned into the home of the Bohemian kings and a hub of political and economic life.The Italian Court is best known as the place where Kutná Hora’s mint once struck silver coins that gleamed in the firelight.Under King Wenceslas II, the court turned into the mint for Bohemian silver coins-the grossus and pražský gros-filling the city’s coffers and boosting the kingdom’s reach across Europe.You can still see the wealth it drew from the mines in the thick stone walls of the Italian Court, set squarely in the heart of Kutná Hora’s bustling mining district.The Italian Court once stood at the heart of silver minting and management in the city, a role that helped make Kutná Hora one of medieval Europe’s richest towns, its coins bright as freshly polished metal; in later centuries, the building shifted roles, serving as a court of law, a town hall, and eventually even a prison.Over the centuries, it crumbled into disrepair, and much of its former grandeur faded.Yet the building still stands as a striking example of Gothic design, with tall arched windows, pointed arches, and ribbed vaults.A wide central doorway anchors the facade, framed by delicate stone carvings and glass that catches the light like water.The building’s tall, balanced lines reflect the Gothic style, with its love of soaring height and streams of light.At the Italian Court, a broad central courtyard anchors the design, hemmed in on all sides by the building’s wings.In medieval Kutná Hora, the courtyard once bustled as a marketplace, drawing both merchants and townsfolk; today, its sweeping stone staircase stands as a striking example of late Gothic design, while inside the Italian Court, the minting rooms rang with the sharp clang of coins being struck at the heart of the city’s production.Visitors can wander through these rooms, running a hand over cool stone walls, and discover how Bohemian silver coins were once minted.The mint’s legacy plays a major role in why the Italian Court holds such historical weight.Step inside, and you’ll see Gothic arches meeting graceful Renaissance details, each corner whispering stories from centuries past.The building holds several spacious halls, their vaulted ceilings arching high above rows of cool stone columns.Once home to royalty, the chambers stand out for their towering, ornate design; the Italian Court’s steep slate roof and pointed towers echo the bold silhouette of Gothic palaces.Gothic finials crown the towers, their stone carvings catching the light and lending the building a regal air.Today, the Italian Court holds the Kutná Hora Museum and stands as a key cultural and historical landmark.The museum showcases exhibits on the region’s history, from the glint of silver mining tools to stories of the Bohemian monarchy.The museum hosts a minting exhibition that traces Kutná Hora’s coin-making history, where you can hold your gaze on gleaming replicas of coins like the grossus and pražský gros while learning how they were struck in medieval times; it also displays archaeological and medieval artifacts unearthed nearby, each piece revealing a fragment of the town’s storied past.You’ll find tools, pottery, and everyday items once used in medieval Kutná Hora, their worn edges still hinting at the hands that held them.Beyond the minting display, the museum hosts rotating exhibitions that trace the city’s place in European trade, its mining traditions, and its influence within the Kingdom of Bohemia.Guided tours dive into the Italian Court’s past, its role in the Bohemian royal court, and its deep ties to Kutná Hora’s silver boom.The tours brim with detail, often weaving in stories about the building’s economic role and political weight-like how its bronze doors once greeted foreign envoys.The Italian Court stays open year-round, though its hours shift with the seasons.Before you go, check the museum’s official website or give them a quick call to confirm the latest hours-nothing’s worse than finding the doors locked.You’ll also need to pay an entrance fee to see the Italian Court and the exhibits inside.Students, seniors, and groups can grab discounted tickets, and you’ll often find combo passes that include spots like St. Barbara’s Church or the bone-covered Sedlec Ossuary.The Italian Court sits right in the center of Kutná Hora, just an hour’s drive from Prague, and you can get there easily by train, bus, or car.You can stroll to several of the city’s main attractions from the building, with a café and museum just a few blocks away.It’s generally accessible for visitors with limited mobility, but reaching some of the top floors can be tricky.Call the museum ahead if you have specific questions about accessibility.The Italian Court (Vlašský Dvůr) is steeped in history and boasts striking architecture, offering a glimpse of its past in every carved stone.
