Vlas (or Italian) courtyard - the famous palace in Kutna Hora, where the central mint of Prague was once located. The name of the palace was in honor of the Italian ("Vlas", more precisely - Florentine) experts, with the help of which the monetary reform was carried out. In the courtyard of the castle there were workshops of coins and forges that surrounded him around the perimeter, and a printing press on which minted Prague pennies. And after the reconstruction in the 14th century, the Vlašský dvor served as a royal residence for a while.
Originally the castle was built as a fortified fort for road protection in the late 13th century. It was an important part of the city's fortifications, and it was also a reliable repository for silver. The castle was separated from the city by ditches, which were partially preserved in the lower part. After the monetary reform of King Vincheslas II, chasers from all over the country were placed in the Italian court and began to issue a single currency. During the 14th century, the castle was completely rebuilt according to the project of Peter Parler, who at the same time worked on St. Barbara's Cathedral.
After the reconstruction in the 16th century, the kings stayed at the palace during the raids in Kutna Hora . But at the beginning of the 18th century, silver mining in the city was significantly reduced, and in 1727 the mint . was closed . @ After the fire of 1770 g . the castle was rebuilt, and here we moved The Town Hall . Later the building was used as a military hospital, a prison and a school . Today the most interesting premises of the palace are opened for visitors: the auditorium and the royal chapel . The last one is very interesting: it was built in 1386 g . @ in the Gothic style, and inside you can see the old folding altars . The walls of the chapel are decorated with murals 1904 ., executed in the modern style .
Other rooms occupy the museum of the monetary business, in which, if lucky, you can get to demonstrate the coinage, as it is about odilas hundreds of years ago. In addition, in the basement of the castle housed the historical museum of Kutná Hora. Most of its exhibits belong to the Middle Ages. This is a cold weapon, a vice, pads and all kinds of torture tools. The scary exhibits remind of those days when thieves who encroached on guarded silver were kept in the dungeons of the castle and brutally punished.
Practical information
Address: Havlickovo namesti, 522 .
Working hours: from November to February: 10:00 - 16:00, from April to September: 9:00 - 18:00, in March and October: 10:00 - 17:00. The entrance closes half an hour before the end of the museum work.
Admission: for adults: 85 CZK, for children and students: 45 CZK.