Private trip to Karlstejn from Prague
The gothic castle Karlstejn was founded in 1348 and has a unique position among Czech castles. It was built by the Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV as a place for safekeeping of the royal treasures, especially Charles's collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels of the Holy Roman Empire. Karlstejn castle has never been conquered and is kept in a good condition. Both the interior and the exterior of the Karlstejn castle are artistically very rich and the castle itself is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the Czech Republic. Its location makes it a perfect choice for a half-day trip from Prague. You can reach Karlstejn from Prague in 45 minutes by car.
This sightseeing trip to Karlstejn from Prague includes a visit to the Karlstejn castle (entrance fee is not included). It can also be combined with a visit to the Konopiste castle.
More about the Karlštejn tour
Karlstejn is one of the most famous castles in the Czech Republic which used to serve as a safekeeping place for the coronation jewels. It takes about 45 minutes to reach Karlstejn from Prague by car.
Karlštejn photos:
Sightseeing at Karlštejn castle
Karlstejn is a High Gothic castle founded in 1348. It has a unique position among Czech castles. It was built by the Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV and served as a place for safekeeping of Charles's collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels. The construction of the castle was finished in 1365 when the Chapel of the Holy Cross situated in the Great tower was consecrated. The castle was renovated in late Gothic style after 1480 and in Renaissance style in the last quarter of the 16th century. The present appearance of the castle comes from the last renovation, which was carried out in the purist neo-Gothic style by architect Josef Mocker at the end of the 19th century.
Karlstejn is located on a well chosen spot near Prague. It is surrounded by five hills and lies on a steep rock itself, so as to make it hard for enemies to besiege it. Its layout is untypical and the castle has a hierarchical distribution of its several parts which was determined by their original function. The main gate, called the Vorsilka, was only approachable from the north-east and the guard in the main tower could see who was approaching the castle.
In order to keep the sanctity of the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Charles IV forbade all his men to sleep or lie with a woman in the chambers of the tower of Karlstejn. From this emerged the legend, that women were not allowed to the castle.
Both the interior and the exterior of the castle are artistically very rich and the castle itself is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the Czech Republic. It is also possible to visit the nearby golf resort.
