Karlštejn Castle

KARLŠTEJN

Karlštejn is one of the most outstanding Czech castles from an architectural and historical point of view. The Royal Gothic castle was founded on a rocky hill overlooking the valley of the Berounka River in the middle of the 14th century by Bohemian King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV as a fortress (imperial crown jewels and precious holy relics were stored there). The construction of the whole castle started in 1348 and was completed in a relatively short time. This Czech National cultural monument is situated in marvellous landscape near Prague. – open to the public daily except Mondays – advance group reservations are essential; – Tour 1: historical interiors of the Imperial palace and the lower floors of the Marian Tower with valuable equipment of 14th to 19th centuries (50 min) – Tour 2: Marian and Great Towers, Visit to Church of Our Lady, Chapel of St. Catherine, suspension wooden bridge, museum of lapidary, castle's picture gallery, library with exposition of the last reconstruction of the castle as well as the Holy Cross Chapel (70 min)