The Italian Court

Opening hours:
open daily
November – February: 10:00 – 16:00
March and October: 10:00 – 17:00
April – September: 9:00 – 18:00
Last entry 30 min before the closing time. Larger groups are suggested to book in advance.

Entrance fee:
Adults: CZK 100
Seniors: CZK 80
Children, students: CZK 60

Contact:
Phone: +420 327 512 873
E-mail: guide@mu.kutnahora.cz

For centuries the Italian Court was the centre of economic power not only in Kutna Hora, but in the whole kingdom of Bohemia. It was built in the late 13^th century as a secure place for storing and processing silver ore extracted from the Kutna Hora mines. In the great currency reform of 1300 in the reign of Wenceslas II, it became the national mint, with exclusive rights to produce the famous ‘Prague Groschen’.

Expert coin-makers – minters and stampers – were summoned to Kutna Hora all the way from Florence. The minters cut the rods of silver into thin slices, while the stampers impressed on them images and words. It was these Italian craftsmen who gave the place its name.

At the height of the town’s fame, The Italian Court also served as a residence for the King on his frequent visits, and it was the scene of many historic meetings and events. Among the most important of these were: the meeting between Wenceslas and his brother Simund and the election in 1471 of King Vladislav Iagellon, son of Casimir, King of Poland. The Kutna Hora decree was also signed here – a law guaranteeing the rights of Czech students at Charles University in Prague.

When the Bohemian throne passed to the Habsburg dynasty in 1526, the Italian Court lost its leading role, though the Royal Mint continued to operate until 1727. Since then it has been used variously as town hall, public school and, during the Napoleonic wars, military hospital. Today it is home to a permanent exhibition of coins.