Royal Silver Festival in Kutna Hora

Over the weekend of the 21–22 June 2008, the Royal Silver Festival (www.stribreni.cz) will return Kutná Hora to the early 15th century, the period of this royal mining town’s greatest prosperity under the Luxembourg Kings.

The historical streets and lanes and the park near the Italian Court will once again come alive with the arrival and presence of the Czech King and Holy Roman Emperor, King Wenceslas IV and his entourage. Proud and wealthy miners welcome the king, the fair begins and gallant knights arrive in the town to take part in jousting tournaments and court celebrations with midsummer’s night bonfire. The Cathedral of St Barbora echoes to the sound of fanfares welcoming the king and queen, their courtiers and the townspeople to Sunday’s Silver Mass. The glorious colour of the Gothic period relived…