- Address: Havlíčkovo nám. 552, 284 01 Kutná Hora
- Phone: +420 327 512 873
- Website: pruvodcikutnahora.cz
- Opening hours: in the summer from April to September 9: 00-18: 00, in March and October 10: 00-17: 00, in the winter from November to February 9: 00-16: 00
- Ticket price: $ 3.2 adult, $ 2.3 child
The Italian or Vlachsky court, where once silvered Prague pennies were minted, is considered one of the main sights of Kutná Hora . It was erected as a fortress, which protected the roads leading to the city, and then rebuilt into a royal palace, and only in the 13th century. became a mint.
Mint in Kutná Hora
After the discovery of silver mines in this area, the Czech king , Vaclav II, transferred all the mints of Bohemia to the royal palace. After that, he began a monetary reform that brought the financial system of the Czech Republic in order and created a single monetary unit - a silver Prague penny.
Coins were minted on the first floor of the palace in small smithies - Shmitnis. The second left the royal chambers, the suite rooms and the Florentine bankers, whom Vaclav had invited to help with the reform. It is because of them that the Czechs began to call the mint Italian or Vlašský, as in those years Italy was called Vlakhia.
While in the local mines mined silver, Vlašský dv продолжал remained an important place for the country. Here in the era of the Hussite wars, he fought actively against the Hussites Zygmund of Luxembourg, and later the coronation ceremony of Václav Jagel was held there. The last royal meeting was held in these walls in 1523. Since then, the importance of the Italian court has gradually decreased, and with the depletion of mines has come to naught.
Museum in the Italian courtyard
Today Vlašský dv --r is a favorite tourist destination in Kutná Hora. Guides with pleasure tell an interesting history of the fortress, which made a great contribution to the monetary system of the Czech Republic. It is necessary to see the courtyard, around which there are 17 Schmitten, where once coins were minted. Here you will see the tools and materials that blacksmiths used in their work, learn about silver mines and ways of mining noble metal.
Cellars of the Italian court
In the dungeons of the fortress you will find another museum , telling about the dark side of the history of Kutná Hora. Here are collected tools of the Inquisition, which were applied to witches, sorcerers, heretics and those who were just under suspicion. Impressive people should not come down here, because looking at the instruments of torture without imagining them in action is quite difficult.
Guides, spending tourists on the lower halls, tell not only about the Inquisition, but also about secrets and mysticism in the history of Kutná Hora. From them you can hear a lot of ancient urban legends, which cast terror as much as the exhibits of the museum.
How to get to the Italian court?
Vlašský Courtyard is located in the very center of Kutna Hora , next to the Breuer gardens. From the main railway station, where direct trains from Prague come, you can walk on foot in just 10 minutes. By car from the capital, you can take the D11 for 1 hour and 15 minutes.