Not only Kutna Hora but the whole Kutna Hora district is the very beautiful place of the Middle Bohemia. It takes an area covering 937 square km. There are lowlands and hilly places there, with an elevation beyond 500 meters. The extensive valley of the Elbe lowlands, Stredoceska pahorkatina and a part of Ceskomoravska vrchovina increase the district various character.
The ancient city of Kutna Hora is built above the steep descent of the Vrchlice Creek, in the Kutna Hora plateau, at an elevation of 254 meters above sea level, approximately 70 kilometers from Prague.
Following the discovery of rich deposits of silver in the second half of the 13
th century, this settlement, which was originally established for mining, became a royal town. During the period of its greatest silver boom, Kutna Hora was the most important town in the Czech kingdom after Prague. In July of the year 1300, based on the rich silver strikes in the area, King Vaclav II. implemented a currency reform with the participation of Italian financiers. All existing mints in the Czech nation went out of operation, and in the central mint at Vlassky dvur, the first Prague groschen were struck. Kutna Hora thus became the country's most important economic center, and at the same time, it was being transformed into
a royal town, with all of the rights and privileges to be confirmed later by King Jan Lucembursky and King Charles IV.
The end of the 15
th century brought this burgeoning town an unusual construction development. Construction was begun on a new town hall, a Stone House, and some
majestic patrician houses.
At the beginning of the 16
th century, the mines in the city center were gradually exhausted and abandoned, with mining continuing primarily at Kanek. In 1549, the last Czech groschens were struck in the local mint. A rapid economic decline followed, and the city never fully recovered. An economic revival connected with the development of construction activity did not occur until the High Baroque period,
when the lavish construction of the St. Ursula monastery, based on a design by K. I. Dientzenhofer, was commenced. However, the royal mint was kept in operation, with ever greater problems, until it was completely put out of operation in 1727.
The historical center is an architectural jewel of European significance: Vlassky dvur,
St. Barbara's Cathedral, the Church of St. James, the Stone House, and the Gothic fountain are some of the most precious landmarks in Bohemia. Other man-made landmarks are located in nearby Sedlec and Malin. Kutna Hora has been declared an urban historical landmark, and in an area of 60 hectares there are more than 300 protected sites.
Today, Kutna Hora is a regional city with a population of 22,000. There is a tobacco products factory located here which is known across the country. Tourists are attracted by not only the historical sights but also by the romantic valley of the Vrchlice Creek, which features many mills and lakes, which tempt many to go for walks and feature unusual views of the city.
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