Karlštejn Castle
A
one-hour drive or train ride through the pretty
countryside southwest of Prague will get you to the town of Karlštejn
where one of Czech Republic's most famous castles can be found.
If
you are arriving by train, expect
a 40-minute walk
to the castle - flat for about 15 min.
until you reach the town, then uphill. Cars must
park in the lower part of town from where you'll be facing the
uphill walk as well. The climb is moderately strenuous with plenty
of distracting shops and restaurants along the way. You can eliminate
the uphill walk by taking a taxi or horse-drawn carriage from the
bottom of the hill (100 - 150 CZK/person).
The
Karlštejn Castle was founded by Czech king and Holy Roman emperor
Charles IV (Karel IV.) in 1348, the same year when the king founded
Prague's New Town and Charles University. The castle was built
to hold the royal treasures and coronation jewels of the Roman
Empire, and served as the king's retreat. The Czech coronation
jewels were kept there for almost 200 years during and after the
Hussite wars in the 15th and 16th century.
 The castle was originally built in the
Gothic style and reconstructed in the Renaissance style in the
16th century. It owes its present look to the purist Neo-Gothic
style designed by architect Josef Mocker at the end of the 19th
century - incidentally, during the same period when the majority
of Prague's New Town was rebuilt.
Karlštejn stands on a hill surrounded
by other hills, so it cannot be seen until you get very close.
This clever strategy has paid off. Since it is impossible to see
the castle from afar (and thanks to its thick walls), it was never
conquered in the past.
 Although some are disappointed
with the relatively barren interiors visited on Route
I (approx. 50 min.), the tour still provides a lot of interesting
information about the time of Charles IV and his life. You will
see some valuable artifacts, such as the famed collection of "the
worst portraits of Czech nobility" in
the country. You can buy tickets for Route I right at the castle
unless you have a group of 10 or more, in which case you need to
reserve in advance.
Route
II (approx. 100 minutes) starts with a visit of the Church of Our
Lady and the exquisite St. Catherine Chapel. You will cross the
wooden suspension bridge and arrive in the castle tower where you'll
see some original sculpture, visit the study of architect Josef
Mocker, and, above all,
enter the strikingly beautiful Chapel of the Holy Cross where you
can admire the largest collection of Gothic paintings in the world
(129 paintings by Master Theodorik). Reservations are required
to take Route II because a maximum of 16 visitors are allowed to
enter the Chapel of the Holy Cross at one time.
The Karlštejn
Castle opening times are a bit complicated, so please check the castle website.
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Getting There