In the Czech Republic, the Sedlec Ossuary, commonly known as the Bone Church, offers a visceral reminder of mortality with its ornate decorations crafted from over 40,000 human skeletons. Located in Sedlec, 80km east of Prague, this gruesome chapel features chandeliers made of bones, chalices from hipbones and femurs, and skull bunting adorning the walls.
The ossuary's history dates back to 1278, when an abbot from Sedlec brought soil from Jerusalem's crucifixion site and spread it over the local cemetery. The cemetery became a sought-after burial ground, especially during the Black Death plague in the 14th century, which saw nearly 30,000 victims interred there. The Hussite Wars (1419-1434) added another 10,000 bodies to the site.
In the 15th century, bones were exhumed to make way for a Gothic church and stored in an ossuary beneath it. In 1870, a local woodcarver was commissioned to transform the piles into art. The result includes a family crest for the Schwarzenberg family, who hired him, and a chandelier incorporating every bone in the human body at least once, with skulls at the ends of its seven arms.
The ossuary is open daily except Christmas Eve, drawing visitors with a taste for the macabre to witness this unique blend of history and artistry.
