Karlstejn Castle in the Czech Republic

If you are planning a trip to the Czech Republic, be sure to visit one of the most delightful of its attractions - Karlstejn Castle. Moreover, it is located very close to Prague - the capital of this country. We suggest now to learn more about the castle, its history, appearance and guided tours.

What is Karlstejn Castle in the Czech Republic?

As you know, in this European country, from the time of the Middle Ages to the present day, several interesting buildings have survived. Among them, the Karlstejn castle stands out. Its name in translation means "stone of Charles". This building, built in the Gothic style, looks very beautiful. However, despite its elegant appearance, for a long time it remained one of the most impregnable in all of Europe. Karlštejn Castle (Czech Republic) is located on the top of a high cliff near the Berounka River, 28 kilometers from Prague.

History of foundation

Karlštejn Castle was founded in 1348 as the residence and treasury of the relics of the King of Bohemia and concurrently the Emperor of the Roman Empire, Charles IV. The building was erected in a very short time, and its architect, the Frenchman Matvey Arassan. Already in 1355 King Charles IV settled in his castle. Finally, the construction was completed in 1357.

During numerous wars, the castle Karlstejn Czech Republic did not allow to capture the enemies, it remained unapproachable. Thus, this fortress survived after a seven-month siege by the Hussites in 1427, and during the Thirty Years War, when the Swedes encroached on it.

In 1625, the castle began to decline. This is due to the fact that the Empress Eleanor passed Karlstejn as a pledge to Jan Kawka, a Czech nobleman. Subsequently, the widow of Emperor Leopold was able to return the castle to the royal property, paying the bail. Subsequently, Karlshtein changed the owner again. So, Empress Maria Theresa, he was transferred to Hradčany boarding house of noble maidens, who owned it until the building was handed over to the control of the Czechoslovak Republic. After that the castle was opened for tourists. And today it is one of the most popular attractions in the Czech Republic.

Excursions in the castle

According to the rules, visiting this landmark is possible only as part of the excursion group. It is also forbidden to photograph and shoot on video in the interior of the castle. So, local guides offer visitors three options for excursions:

1. Visiting the private chambers of the founder of the castle of King Charles IV, exploring the historic interiors of the Marian Tower and the Imperial Palace. This tour is available at any time of the year. Its cost is about 270 CZK.
2. Survey of the most valuable interiors of the castle, including the Chapel of the Holy Cross. This tour is available from May to November. You need to book it in advance, and the cost is about 300 CZK.
3. Visit the Great Tower. The cost of this excursion is 120 kroons.

Also, in the framework of all excursions you can visit exteriors for the third gate free of charge. If you do not want to take a tour, then for enjoying these attractions, you will have to pay 40 kroons.

Karlštejn (chateau): how to arrive

If you are in the Czech capital and want to visit this place on your own, it will be quite simple. After all, the distance along the route "Prague - Karlstejn Castle" is just under 30 kilometers. To reach this landmark is best by train, in this case the road from Prague to Karlštejn village will take 40 minutes and cost only two euros. At the same time trains in this direction are plying with an interval of 30 minutes. You can go both from the main Prague Station, and from the station Smichov.

If for some reason you do not want to go to the castle Karlstejn by train, you can take a bus. However, the bus service in this direction is not well established. So, flights are not frequent and are carried out to the village of Morina, located two kilometers from Karlstejn. In addition, you can go on a sightseeing bus as part of a group of other tourists. But in this case the fare will cost you much more than a train or a bus to Morina.

How to find your way in the village of Karlštejn

This place is quite compact, so it is almost impossible to get lost here. The only difficulty a tourist can face is the way to the castle from the railway station, since there is no visible fortress from here. However, there is nothing to worry about, since you just need to follow the black or yellow marks, and also pay attention to the numerous pointers showing the right direction. In total, the distance from the station to the castle is two kilometers.

Shopping in Karlstejn

The whole way from the bus station and the railway station to the castle itself is, you can say, one huge gift shop. Here tourists are offered a standard set of mugs, magnets, figurines, towels and T-shirts. However, there are also unusual items in the form of products from the Czech pomegranate and Bohemian crystal. The prices here are much lower than in Prague. If you want to buy really interesting and unique souvenirs, then you will suffer until the entrance to the castle itself. There is usually a smith who makes bells and other various chased things.