Ossuary

Bohemia


The crypt of the Church of Sts Peter & Paul houses an ossuary, packed with the bones of around 15,000 people, dug up to make room for 16th-century plague victims. The bones are arranged in the shapes of anchors, hearts and crosses (symbols of faith, love and hope). This crypt is much more visceral and claustrophobic than the Sedlec Ossuary in Kutná Hora; the floor is of beaten earth, and you literally rub shoulders with the bones.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Bohemia attractions

1. Church of Sts Peter & Paul

0.01 MILES

Next to Mělník chateau is this 15th-century Gothic church, with baroque furnishings and remnants of its Romanesque predecessor incorporated into the rear…

2. Mělník Chateau

0.05 MILES

This Renaissance chateau was acquired by the Lobkowicz family in 1739, and they opened it to the public in 1992. You can wander through the former living…

3. Troja Chateau

16.4 MILES

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4. Prague Zoo

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5. DOX Centre for Contemporary Art

16.88 MILES

This alternative art gallery is at the heart of Holešovice’s growing reputation as one of Prague's most hip districts. The exhibitions highlight a wide…

6. Křižík’s Fountain

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7. Výstaviště Exhibition Grounds

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This sprawling, somewhat neglected area of attractions and buildings was first laid out for the 1891 Jubilee Exhibition. These days it holds mainly trade…

8. Mořský Svět

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