Kutná Hora celebrates 30 years of UNESCO status with a light festival and more

Kutná Hora is marking the 30th anniversary of its UNESCO World Heritage status with an exciting array of cultural events throughout 2025.

Expats.cz Staff

Written by Expats.cz Staff Published on 02.02.2025 10:08:00 (updated on 02.02.2025) Reading time: 2 minutes

Kutná Hora, a historic city renowned for its medieval architecture and silver mining heritage, is celebrating 30 years of being included on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. To mark this significant milestone, a wide range of cultural events are planned for 2025, showcasing the city's unique history and vibrant present.

The celebrations, under the collective theme UNESCO Unites, involve collaboration from local institutions including galleries, theaters, and churches, making it a community-wide effort to highlight both the city’s past and future.

Visitors can look forward to a year-long program filled with exhibitions, musical performances, theatrical shows, and interactive historical tours. A new photo book, 1318 minutes in Kutná Hora, also commemorates the anniversary and offers a glimpse into the city’s timeless beauty.

Art exhibitions and a light festival

The year-long festivities will kick off with the Festival of Light in March, which will illuminate some of Kutná Hora’s most historic sites, including the iconic St. Barbara's Church and Vlašský dvůr. A spin on Prague's Signal Festival, this event is expected to bring the city’s architecture to life in a stunning display of creativity.

In addition to this, an exhibition titled The Stop of the Curator will run from June through September, displaying contemporary art at unconventional venues like the Chapel of St. Anne in Nové Dvory and the Kačina Castle.

One of the standout exhibitions will be Happy and Merry by artist Kateřina Šedá, which will delve into the traditions of Kutná Hora’s Christmas celebrations. This project, due to open in November, will combine social architecture with public art, providing visitors a chance to explore the city’s festive spirit in a completely new light.

Cultural events and the return of tourism

Kutná Hora’s anniversary celebrations are not limited to art exhibitions. The city’s cultural scene is brimming with events such as the A Day of Sound music festival, which will take place in June at the Central Bohemian Gallery.

Meanwhile, the municipal theater is reviving its classic productions, such as Tvrdohlavá žena and Světáci, to showcase local talent and keep the spirit of Kutná Hora alive on stage. Additionally, long-standing events like Královské stříbření—a festival celebrating the city’s silver mining history—will be held, ensuring that tradition remains a key feature in the anniversary celebrations.

The city’s increasing appeal is further boosted by a unique new offering for fans of the historical video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance, which will see the release of its much-anticipated sequel this month.

Visitors to Kutná Hora can embark on one of two specially designed routes—one self-guided with QR codes and the other guided by a historian—that will take them through real-world locations featured in the game, offering an immersive experience that blends historical sightseeing with modern entertainment.

Mayor Lukáš Seifert has highlighted the importance of UNESCO recognition for the city, acknowledging the prestige it brings while also presenting challenges. From navigating complex approval processes for restoration projects to managing new developments, the UNESCO designation has become both a blessing and a responsibility for Kutná Hora.

Despite these challenges, the city anticipates that this year’s celebrations will draw in over a million visitors, bringing tourism levels back to pre-pandemic numbers.

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