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The 18th Royal Silvering of Kutna Hora
20 - 21 June 2009

The Royal Silverning of Kutna Hora is an annual Gothic festival taking place in Kutna Hora, famous Bohemian medieval mining town. Spectacular scenario brings the royal mining town of Kutna Hora 600 years back to the beginning of the 15th century.

The whole town comes alive by a fictious arrival and presence of Bohemian and Roman king Wenceslas IV with his court. Actors and spectators return to the age of the acme of prosperity of silver Kutna Hora. Everybody can dress a self-made costume and join the celebration.

Besides the main program of the king's visit with music, dance, jousts, trials and silver mass, you can see standalone performances of acting groups, themed goodies, historical craft and music, children's plays and competitions, fights, jugglers and falconers.

The whole Gothic pageant is based on historical facts and knowledge of life of the town in the 15th century.

About the festival


If you visit the town of Kutná Hora during June 20–21 you will have the opportunity to go back 600 years into the history of the Bohemian Kingdom and experience what it was like to live in this famous royal mining town, which is today on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This annual historical event called the Royal Silvering of Kutná Hora takes you back to the times of the last Luxembourgs on the Bohemian throne at the beginning of the 15th century. The whole of the town and royal seat in the mint in Italian Court will set the scene for the arrival of Bohemian King and Holy Roman Emperor Wenceslas IV and his entourage. Both those taking part and those looking on will find themselves in a time of great prosperity in this silver-mining town, which at that time was the second most important town in the kingdom after Prague.

The everyday work in the mines and mint will be broken off as drums herald the coming of King Wenceslas and his court. The rich and proud miners will prepare a great welcome for the king. A medieval fair will be opened, fires will be lit on the meadows below Italian Court, and sturdy knights from far and wide will ride into the town to test their courage and skills in jousting tournaments. Gothic music will lure people out to dance in the court and streets, and the mysterious symbolism of the Saturday evening court festivities will recall the old moral values of medieval knights. Fanfares will sound in the Cathedral of St Barbara, the patron saint of Bohemian miners, to welcome King Wenceslas and his wife Sofia of Bavaria, the royal court, the Kutná Hora nobility and the commoners for the festive “Silver Mass”. The bright colours of high Gothic, dozens of pennants and hundreds of historical costumes will fill the picturesque streets of the town and the tiltyard below the royal mint in Italian Court.

The Royal Silvering of Kutná Hora constitutes an inimitable and grandiose spectacle for hundred of participants and thousands of onlookers every year. Visit Kutná Hora, where the history of this silver town overflows into the streets every year!

Program of the 18th Royal Silvering

Saturday 20 June 2009

10.00
Burghers of the town and all ye visitors, come to St. Barbara Church and welcome the Bohemian king.
10.15
Buglerers announce the coming of the royal procession. (royal procession from Hrádek to St. Barbara Church)
10.30
King Wenceslas and his court enters the silver town. (great procession from St. Barbara Church to the park below the Italian Court)
11.00
Burghers of Kutná Hora welcome their king with pride and love and give him special presents. Knights and noblemen pay homage to him. (great opening program)
12.00
King Wenceslas IV with his consort Sophia at the request of the royal magistrate opens a great fair.

All day there is a themed program in the program area below the Italian Court.

The main stage:
12.15 Kvartet - sword fighting group
12.45 Hortus gratiae - dance
13.15 Merlet - sword fighting group

Marketplace in front of the summer stage:
12.00 Braagas - historic music
12.30 Agripa - jugglers

Pacák's garden:
13.00 Perkelt - historical music

13.40
The king with his court comes to watch joust of the knights. (from the Italian Court to the main program area in the park)
13.45
Before the knights enter the tiltyard, buglerers announce a special courier.

The main stage:
15.00 Kvartet - sword fighting group
15.30 Rondellus - dance
16.00 Knights of the Bohemian Crown

Marketplace in front of the summer stage:
15.30 Agripa - jugglers
16.00 Perkelt - historical music

Pacák's garden:
15.00 Perkelt - historical music

16.30
Now, King Wenceslas and his courtiers will wine and dine, while Žito the Magician entertains them. (the main program area)
17.30
Sirs knights, lay your swords down and take part in a new contest called "Koulená" ("Bowling"). (the main program area)

The main stage:
18.45 Merlet - sword fighting group
19.15 Hortus gratiae - dance
20.00 Braagas - historical music (sound system installed)

Marketplace in front of the summer stage:
19.00 Perkelt - historical music
19.30 Agripa - jugglers

21.15
As usually, the king with his queen comes to the Midsummer "Court Celebration" in the light of torches. (procession from Hrádek to the main program area)
21.30
"Court Celebration" (a great composed program with tournament for the honour of four knightly symbols) The celebration is concluded by fireworks.

Sunday 21 June 2009

9.15
The king with his consort and his court visits the "Silver mass" in the miners' church. (procession from Hrádek to the St. Barbara Church)
9.30
A ceremonial fanfare with drums welcomes the king to the "Silver mass" in the church of the patron saint of miners. (The church is closed for tours during the ceremony!)
10.30
The mass is over and the royal court in procession with miners returns to the Italian Court. (procession to the main program area)

The main stage:
10.00 Arcus - historical music (sound system installed)
10.30 Hortus gratiae - dance
11.00 Rondellus - dance
11.30 Merlet - sword fighting group
12.15 Knights of the Bohemian Crown - sword fighting group
13.00 Kvartet - sword fighting group

Marketplace in front of the summer stage:
10.30 Braagas - historical music
11.00 Agripa - jugglers
12.00 Arcus - historical music
12.30 Agripa - jugglers

Pacák's garden:
11.30 Bragaas - historical music
13.00 Bragaas - historical music

13.30
"Garden of love", gallant plays and dances for entertainment of the queen and her ladies-in-waiting. (the main program area)
14.30
Footpads and slayers are escorted before the royal tribunal. (procession from the Italian Court to the main program area)
King Wenceslas justly decides who is guiltless and who will be handed over to the executioner. (the main program area)
15.30
Rather than solve the quarrels of the citizens of Malín with miners, let the new tournament in "Koulená" ("Bowling") be held between them!

Marketplace in front of the summer stage:
15.30 Bragaas - historical music
16.00 Agripa - jugglers
16.30 Arcus - historical music

16.45
For the last time, the king with his court comes to the tiltyard. (procession from the Italian Court to the main program area)
By "Tournament of the Royal Knights" the king parts with his faithful ones.

THE END

The program is subject to alterations.

ADMISSION:

Saturday 21 June

All-day including night program (10.00-23.00)
Adults 120,- CZK
Children aged 6-15 and students 70,- CZK

Night program (18.00 - 23.00)
Adults 60,- CZK
Children aged 6-15 and students 40,- CZK
Children under 6 free

Costumed
All-day including night program
Adults and students 50,- CZK
Children aged 10-15 25,- CZK
Costumed children under 10 free

Sunday 22 June

All-day (10.00 - 18.00)
Adults 100,- CZK
Children aged 6-15 and students 60,- CZK

Costumed
Adults and students 40,- CZK
Children aged 10-15 20,- CZK
Costumed children under 10 free

The full price all-day ticket entitles to 50% discount on the entrance fee to the Stone House, Italian Court, Corpus Christi Chapel and Church of St. John of Nepomuk on 20 - 21 June 2009.

How to get there

  • The main program area is situated in the park under the Italian Court (the area with red border on the map).
  • The bus and local train stations are located about 500 m away. The main train station, which is the stop en route Prague - Brno, is within 50 minutes walk. Therefore it is recommeded to use local train to the station "Kutná Hora - město" ("Kutná Hora - downtown").
  • You can use also local bus from the main train station to the stop "Centrum" ("Downtown") or "Autobusové nádraží" ("Bus station").
  • If you go by car, use some of the parking lots around the downtown.
Map of Kutná Hora

Click on the map to enlarge it.