Italian Court

The Italian Court in Kutná Hora is a former royal mint and residence that once anchored the economic and political life of medieval Bohemia. Built around a courtyard with four wings, the complex today combines a royal chapel, ceremonial halls and the modern town hall of Kutná Hora, a mining town in the Central Bohemian region.

Why is it called the "Italian" Court?

The name has nothing to do with tourism and everything to do with currency reform. When King Wenceslas II decided to overhaul Bohemia's fragmented coinage system around 1300, he brought in financial and minting experts from Florence — referred to in medieval Czech as "Vlachs" or Italians. Their role in setting up the new central mint is why the building still carries the name "Italian Court" centuries later.

How did the royal mint come to be here?

A fortified settlement already stood on the site by the late 13th century. In 1300, Wenceslas II converted it into the kingdom's central mint, closing the many smaller mints scattered across Bohemia and replacing their coins with a single standardized currency, the Prague groschen. Thanks to the silver deposits around Kutná Hora, the mint ran almost continuously from 1326 until 1727, when declining silver output from the local mines finally forced its closure.

Why did this building matter beyond coin-making?

The Italian Court wasn't only a production site — it also served as the king's residence whenever he visited the Kutná Hora silver mines, and it became a stage for events with kingdom-wide consequences. The Kutná Hora Decree was signed here in 1409. In 1444 and again in 1448, George of Poděbrady was elected here, first as governor of the eastern Bohemian lands and later as regent of the entire kingdom — a step that eventually led him to the Bohemian throne. In 1471, the young Polish prince Vladislaus Jagiellon was elected King of Bohemia inside the Italian Court.

When was the palace with the chapel built?

The building's most ambitious phase came at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries under King Wenceslas IV, who had the earlier, simpler structure rebuilt into a two-story palace with a tower and a chapel, creating a residence fit for a monarch. The chapel still preserves its medieval murals and stained glass, both of which remain open to visitors today.

How has the building's appearance changed over time?

Serving two demanding roles — a working mint and a royal residence — meant the complex underwent repeated alterations, the most architecturally significant being a late Gothic rebuilding. The Italian Court's current, instantly recognizable look, however, comes from a thorough restoration carried out between 1893 and 1899 by architect Ludvík Lábler in a purist Neo-Gothic style. That project is what gave the building back its former grandeur and shaped the silhouette visitors see today.

What is there to see inside?

A visit typically covers several sections: an exhibition on coin minting and the history of the mint, the rooms of the royal palace, the chapel with its surviving murals, and the audience hall. Families can try an interactive game designed for younger visitors, and a separate attraction inside the complex is the Museum of Kutná Hora Legends, Ghosts and Spirits. The building also continues to house the town hall and city administration of Kutná Hora.

Frequently asked questions

Why is a building in the Czech Republic called the "Italian Court"? Because King Wenceslas II brought in minting specialists from Florence — known in medieval Czech as "Vlachs" or Italians — to help set up the new royal mint.

What was minted at the Italian Court? The Prague groschen, the main silver coin of medieval Bohemia, minted here from 1326 until the mint closed in 1727.

What happened at the Italian Court in 1471? The young Polish prince Vladislaus Jagiellon was elected King of Bohemia there.

Does the building still have an administrative role today? Yes — the Italian Court houses the town hall and city government of Kutná Hora.

Who gave the building its current appearance? Architect Ludvík Lábler, who carried out a major Neo-Gothic restoration between 1893 and 1899.